Millions pay to file their taxes when IRS has free tool

WASHINGTON — Millions of Americans pay to file their taxes every year when they could be doing it for free.

A new Treasury Department audit called the Free File Program from the IRS obscure and complex. The report said not enough taxpayers know about the program or where to find it online.

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The IRS told Channel 11′s Washington Bureau that improvements made this year should make the program easier to use.

The report also noted some tax software companies tried to misguide users about the program in order to get them to buy their programs.

The IRS issued a statement in response to the report:

“The IRS is strongly committed to providing taxpayers with various viable options and tools, including free services, that help them effectively meet their tax obligations-whether online as currently supported by Free File or in-person as supported by the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. The IRS takes the recent concerns raised about the Free File Alliance very seriously. The IRS is identifying short and long-term actions that can help improve Free File for the nation’s taxpayers.”

CLICK HERE FOR THE IRS FREE FILE PROGRAM

Free tax help is also available at several locations around the region:

Mondays (Feb. 24; March 2, 9 & 16)

• Canonsburg Senior Center, 30 East Pike St., Canonsburg, PA 15317

Tuesdays (Feb. 18 & 25; March 3, 10 & 17)

• Human Services Center Corporation, 519 Penn Ave., Turtle Creek, PA 15145

Wednesdays (Feb. 19 & 26; March 4, 11 & 18)

• LifeSpan Chartiers Area Resource Center, 300 Lincoln Ave., Carnegie, PA 15106
• LifeSpan Mon Valley Resource Center, Olympia Park Shopping Plaza, 4313 Walnut St., Suite 370, McKeesport, PA 15132
• Highland Senior Center, Tarentum, 704 Second Ave., Room 100 B, Tarentum, PA 15084

Thursdays (Feb. 20 & 27; March 5 & 12)

• LifeSpan Imperial Resource Center “The Gathering Place,” 540 Penn Lincoln Dr., Imperial, PA 15126
• Body and Soul Health and Wellness Center (formerly New Image), 209 13th St., Pittsburgh, PA 15215
• Carmichaels Activity Center, 100 Nemacolin Road, Carmichaels, PA 15320

Fridays (Feb. 21 & 28; March 6 & 13)

• Connellsville Area Senior Center, 100 East Fayette St., Connellsville, PA 15425

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