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Much of the IRS administration has been shifting towards a paperless paradigm. Filing for income taxes used to be cumbersome and time consuming. That is because everything is done manually. The forms are sent to you on paper. You then have to fill in the forms (don't forget your glasses) and send them back in time. If you fail to do so, you may be liable for certain penalties. Or if you make mistakes (e.g. forgot to send one particular form back), you will be prompted to repeat the process again.
And because filing for taxes manually can be a painful process, many people tend to put off completing the forms until the last minute. This only make matters worse. Some people may even forget about the filing deadline completely.
Today, filing for taxes can be handled differently. Through authorized IRS websites, you can choose to efile your taxes. In other words, you can file for taxes electronically rather than having to fill in a stack of forms. Here is how the process works.
1) Locate an authorized service provider.
You will be be able to see the IRS logo prominently displayed on the website. It is illegal to use this logo without the permission of IRS. So this is the first sign that you look out for when looking for efiling services. Don't submit any information (not even emails) to any website without the IRS authorized logo.
2) Create an account.
If this is the first time you are are efiling your tax return, you will need to create an account. Again, everything is done electronically. To begin, all you need is your SSN number. Your SSN number will be your username. Choose a password that you will remember. If possible, do not write down your password. Memorize the password. If you have a poor memory, write down the password if you must but keep it away under lock and key. You must do everything you can to avoid revealing your password to anyone else.
Also, before creating your account, make sure that you are submitting information through a secure website. A secure website allows you to transmit sensitive information that is encrypted. Your browser will show a small little lock at the status bar, and your URL should show "https" instead of the usual "http". Avoid efiling on wireless networks or public networks for security reasons.
3) Proceed to enter your information.
The efiling process is simple and straightforward. It's designed to be a step by step system so that people who are not so tech savvy can also efile. To the layman, the efiling process will appear as a wizard. You will be asked to fill in specific fields before you can proceed to the next step. That way, you don't have to worry about missing out certain fields. People tend to forget some sections when they file manually.
Once done, simply click submit and you are done!
Learn more about Tax Returns and filing tax returns from Free 1040 Tax Returns.
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