Unless a refund is expected, a lot of taxpayers wait until the last minute to file and pay their US federal income taxes. But don't let that extra time get away from you. The normal due date for filing both returns and extensions is April 15th, but the IRS has extended it to April 18th this year. That is only 2 weeks away.
There are plenty of online sites that charge anywhere from $15 to $18 to file the extension form 4868 for you, but don't pay it. Sites like TaxAct will file this extension form for you for free. That's right, they will not only let a taxpayer file the extension for free, but the actual tax return as well. They will even electronically submit it.
Look for Sites that Offer Free State Tax Filing
It is actually very easy to file the US federal income tax return for free nowadays. What is harder to file for free is the state income taxes. Some states allow its residents to file directly from their site, but some of the links are old so additional research is required. For those who can't find a way to do their taxes locally, there are a few sites that let those with certain criteria file for free.
What is the criteria? For instance the Beehive will only let those taxpayers with earned income of less than $57,000 file for free, and another site requires that the tax filer be under 20 years old. Since this kind of searching takes time, many people opt to use a site that charges, but even those have wildly varying costs.
Free Federal with Cheap State Tax Filing
Turbo Tax has been around for many years and is a highly reputable company. They sell state tax returns that can be filed online for everyone for the low cost of $9.95. The previously mentioned TaxAct charges $14.95 for its state returns, and these prices do include electronic filing.
For those who wish to file their state income taxes manually and mail them in, it is easy to order these free forms. For anyone who has moved and either did not receive or lost the form, simply visit the Federation of Tax Administrators and pick the appropriate state. The forms can then be ordered and mailed to your home.
Always Search Before Paying
Filing taxes does not have to be an arduous task, but it has to be done every year. Penalties for not filing are too severe, so make sure the return or the extension is filed no later than Monday, April 18th, 2011.
Judith Lee - Judith has been a writer for over two decades. She is also a blogger and book/movie reviewer.
