Most Americans hate preparing and filing their taxes. To take the sting off of doing them, the IRS free file program enters its third year.

You hate doing your taxes and so do I. The only thing that is worse is having to pay for an accountant or tax preparation software. Well, now you do not. You may not realize it, but you may be one of the 70 percent of Americans that qualify for the IRS free file program.

In 2003, the IRS apparently got tired of hearing people complain about preparing their taxes. To stem at least some of the criticism, the agency put together a program with various computer software companies that allow you to prepare and file your taxes for free. The companies range from H&R Block to Tax Pros. The key is you have to go to the IRS site and enter the program from there. To do so, just search for free file on the excellent site. If you dont access the program this way, you will end up paying.

So, who is eligible to use the free file program? A surprisingly large number of people. To use the program, you have to meet the following criteria.

1. You must have an adjusted gross income of less than $52,000. Remember, that is adjusted, as in the figure you come up with after claiming most deductions.

That is it. Shocking, eh? There is, however, a secondary question you need to take into account. Should you use the free file program to prepare your taxes?

There is nothing inherently wrong with the free file tax program. In fact, the IRS should be applauded for putting it together considering there was no requirement for it to do so. The only potential downside is you might overpay on taxes if you have a complicated tax situation. The tax code is huge and software programs more or less stick to the basics. If you have a complicated financial situation such as a real estate investor or sole proprietor, you are probably better off using a CPA.

At the end of the day, the IRS free file program will work for most Americans. Now all you have to do is get all that information together!

Richard A. Chapo is with BusinessTaxRecovery.com - providing information on tax debt relief.

IRS Says Taxpayers Not Taking Advantage Of Some Tax Benefits
The Internal Revenue Service announced that there are 5 refunds, credits or services that taxpayers frequently overlook:Telephone Excise Tax Refund This is a one-time refund of long distance excise taxes available on 2006 income tax returns. The ref...

Hemorrhoid - Facts You Want To Know
Hemorrhoids are inflamed, swollen or varicose veins in the rectal or anus area. Hemorrhoids may develop around or inside your anus, thus classified as internal or external hemorrhoids deriving their name from their location.Hemorrhoids incidence incr...

Battling the IRS
There was once a song about battling the law and losing. Fortunately, battling the IRS is possible and sometimes inevitable.Battling the IRSThere comes a time when many Americans must take action against the IRS. The IRS can come down swiftly and wit...

Practical Tips for Filing Taxes Online
Tax season can be a very stressful time for many people. It can be frustrating trying to understand complex tax codes, deductions and earned income credit. Some people become so intimidated by their taxes that they simply chose to ignore them. Althou...

Tax Refunds: How Do They Work?
The best part about filing your taxes is getting the tax refund check! Chances are, you have been paying your taxes directly, or your employer has been withholding tax dollars from your paychecks. Many individuals overpay on their taxes, so they quic...

Unclaimed Tax Refunds - How To Claim Yours
When a taxpayer owes money on their taxes they need to pay the amount owed before the traditional April 15th deadline. If the amount owed on taxes is not paid before the deadline then federal and state governments can impose a number of late fees an...

Getting A Second Extension to File 2004 Taxes
Millions of people file tax return extensions every year. The tax filing deadlines can rush up on your quickly. Fortunately, filing an extension isnt particularly difficult. For individuals, there are two available extensions.Automatic ExtensionWhat ...

IRS Tax Help
IRS tax help refers to the free tax help offered by IRS. It is considered as the easiest way to get tax help. Every tax year, Americans shell out $7.5 billion to get help from tax professionals to prepare their tax returns. IRS tax help is meant for ...

The Abcs Of E-Filing Tax Returns
Filing of tax returns and computing of taxes is a difficult time for most people. Many have to rework their schedules and concentrate on filing returns. The popularity of the internet has led to many US states permitting tax payers to file their stat...

To File Or Not To File: That Is The Question
This year (2007) it is expected that approximately 135 million taxpayers will file a tax return: some early, some late and some, due to procrastination or other reasons, will ask for extension. However, there are those taxpayers that are not required...