Rangel Urges Constituents to Use IRS Free File For Free Online Tax Prep and E-filing

Press Release

Congressman Charles B. Rangel, who represents New York's 13th Congressional District that includes Upper Manhattan and parts of the Bronx, today encouraged constituents to visit www.IRS.gov/freefile and take advantage of free tax preparation and e-filing services available through the IRS Free File program. Powered by The Free File Alliance, a coalition of 13 industry-leading tax software companies partnered with the IRS, the Free File program provides free access to the industry's most innovative and secure tax software.

"The IRS Free File program makes doing your taxes simple, fast and free. It helps keeps money in working people's pockets and help claim credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit, one of our most important anti-poverty tools," said Rangel, who fought for the biggest ever expansion of the EITC in the Tax Reform Act of 1986.

Every taxpayer with a 2015 Adjusted Gross Income of $62,000 or less may visit www.IRS.gov/freefile to either choose the software offering that fits their needs or utilize the "Help Me Find Free File Software" tool to prepare, complete and e-file their federal tax returns at no cost. Free state return options are also available. Free File also helps taxpayers with the new health care requirements. Using Free File, most taxpayers will simply have to check a box to report health care coverage for the entire year.

In addition, Free File provides basic online e-filing services, called Free File Fillable Forms, to all taxpayers regardless of income. Free File Fillable Forms allow taxpayers who are familiar with tax law and need no preparation assistance to complete and e-file their federal income tax return at no cost.Both services are available in Spanish. Over 70 percent of taxpayers qualify for the free tax filing service.

New York is one of 22 states plus the District of Columbia that sponsors a state Free File program, allowing residents to easily and accurately complete both their federal and state taxes for free with the software product they choose.

About the Free File Alliance
The Free File Alliance, a coalition of 13 industry-leading tax software companies, has partnered with the IRS since 2003 to help low and middle-income Americans prepare, complete and e-file their federal tax returns online. The Free File Alliance is committed to giving 70 percent of taxpayers free access to the industry's top online tax preparation software. More than 46 million returns have been filed through Free File since its inception. For more information, visit www.freefilealliance.org.

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