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FREE FILE ALLIANCE ANNOUNCES SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN FREE TAX PREPARATION SERVICE USAGE -- 21% INCRE
Wednesday, 07 May 2008 08:51
WASHINGTON, DC (April 25, 2008) The Free File Alliance today is pleased to announce that Free File usage has increased by 21.61 % in the 2008 tax season.  The Free File Alliance, (www.freefilealliance.com), is 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.   

"We are very pleased to find that Free File usage is up 21% over last year," said Tim Hugo, the executive director of the Free File Alliance. "The Free File Alliance takes very seriously our commitment to providing free tax preparation services to millions of American taxpayers. We will continue to make free services available for all American taxpayers who make under $54,000 or less."

Through the Free File Alliance, the tax software industry made 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 www.freefilealliance.com.

"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% satisfaction rate."

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

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