By TEARSA SMITH
6 News Anchor/Reporter
KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- For the sixth year, the IRS is allowing taxpayers to file taxes for free directly through the IRS Web site.
The program is called Free File.
To be eligible, you need to have an adjusted gross income of $54,000 or less.
If you qualify, you can choose from 19 tax preparation software companies, but the only way you can use the authentic IRS free file program, is through the IRS Web site.
Otherwise, you may have to pay a fee to file your return.
"It's important to let folks know that if you file electronically, it's the fastest way to get your refund," says David Williams with the Electronic Tax Administration.
"If you file electronically and have your refund deposited in a bank account, we can get your money to you in as little as 10 days," Williams adds.
There are two companies that offer Free File in Spanish.
Taxpayers can use Free File to prepare the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Schedule for free.
And taxpayers can use Free File to file a Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File.
Most taxpayers will be able to use the Free File program immediately.
But because of recent alternative minimum tax legislation, as many as 13.5 million taxpayers will need to wait until February 11 before filing their returns.
The affected taxpayers are people who use one of five forms:
