And yet the official IRS website forwards you to one of those 2 sites when you choose the "Free File Fillable Forms" option.
When you click the link to use that option, a disclaimer is shown: "Please note that by clicking on this link, you will leave the IRS web site and enter a privately owned web site created, operated and maintained by a private business."
The same disclaimer is shown if you choose any of the "Free File Companies" listed on the IRS site, rather than the "Free File Fillable Forms".
Unless the IRS is totally incompetent, those are legitimate non-fraudulent sites.
I think it makes sense for both the federal and state tax authorities to provide free electronic submission of tax forms, as that would surely cost them less than processing paper forms which are mailed in. SC used to offer their own free eFile service (it worked well!), but stopped it some years back. Perhaps the tax filing companies complained that it lost them money. But if my only free option is to send in paper forms, then I'll continue sending in paper forms.
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chiming
no subject
Date: 2011-02-27 08:16 pm (UTC)From:When you click the link to use that option, a disclaimer is shown: "Please note that by clicking on this link, you will leave the IRS web site and enter a privately owned web site created, operated and maintained by a private business."
The same disclaimer is shown if you choose any of the "Free File Companies" listed on the IRS site, rather than the "Free File Fillable Forms".
Unless the IRS is totally incompetent, those are legitimate non-fraudulent sites.
The IRS also has a Free File Fillable Forms - General Overview page, which explains how it works.
I think it makes sense for both the federal and state tax authorities to provide free electronic submission of tax forms, as that would surely cost them less than processing paper forms which are mailed in. SC used to offer their own free eFile service (it worked well!), but stopped it some years back. Perhaps the tax filing companies complained that it lost them money. But if my only free option is to send in paper forms, then I'll continue sending in paper forms.