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FREE FILE ALLIANCE ANNOUNCES 2008 LAUNCH
Friday, 11 January 2008 09:32
SIXTH YEAR OF FREE TAX PREPARATION SERVICES SERVING AMERICAN TAXPAYERS

WASHINGTON, DC (January 11, 2008) The Free File Alliance (www.freefilealliance.com), a voluntary coalition of private sector tax software preparation companies that have a landmark public-private partnership with the Internal Revenue Service to provide free tax preparation services to millions of Americans, announced today that it is beginning its sixth year of operation for the 2008 tax season.

"This public-private partnership has allowed more than 19.2 million taxpayers, most with low and moderate incomes, to file tax returns at no charge over the last five years," said Tim Hugo, the executive director of the Free File Alliance. "This program includes 19 innovative private sector tax preparation companies which provide critical assistance to taxpayers at no charge."

Through the Free File Alliance, the tax software industry will make free services available to 70% of American taxpayers in 2008, including all 95 million taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of $54,000 or less. Taxpayers who would like to take advantage of the program can find the Free File program on the Internal Revenue Service website, www.irs.gov or may go to freefilealliance.com. On irs.gov, taxpayers can find the offers made by industry participants and choose the offer that fits their needs. The taxpayer is then transferred to the company's website to prepare and electronic file their taxes.

"The Free File Alliance is an innovative one-of-a-kind partnership with the IRS that offers free federal tax services to millions of low and moderate income Americans," said Hugo. "We have worked hard to strengthen Free File every year and incorporate user-friendly consumer protections into the program.  We are proud that the Free File initiative has a tremendous track record of success, with taxpayer surveys that indicate a nearly 100 percent satisfaction rate."

The Free File Alliance companies have worked with the IRS every year to improve the program and adhere to a series of consumer-friendly "best practices."

"This unique partnership between government and private sector companies provides very real and significant benefits to poor and disadvantaged taxpayers," said the Alliance's lawyer Stephen Ryan of McDermott, Will and Emery. "It also keeps government out of tax preparation, protecting taxpayer privacy and promoting private sector innovation and competition."

Earlier this year, taxpayers responding to an IRS survey reported an overwhelming level of satisfaction with the program.

According to the survey, 95 percent said they intend to use Free File again next year, 99 percent said they found Free File very easy or somewhat easy to use and 98 percent said they would recommend Free File to others. Convenience, plus the free cost, is the most appealing factors of Free File.