March 3, 2005

Electronic Tax Filing Available to North Dakota Taxpayers

The North Dakota Tax Department and the Internal Revenue Service offer North Dakota taxpayers the option to file their income tax returns electronically. Submitting a free e-filing is available for 78 million users during this tax season. More than 83 percent of taxpayers who e-file use it the following year.

E-filing is a fast and convenient way to submit your taxes with guaranteed accurate reports. Filing electronically ensures you 48-hour confirmation and faster refunds than paper filing. The companies listed below offer free e-filing of your federal and state tax returns:

• Intuit Tax Freedom Project (www.statetaxfreedom.com): Free federal and state tax preparation and e-filing if you are eligible for earned income credit (EIC), or if during 2004 you earned $35,500 or less in total income, or were active in the military with a military W2
• Complete Tax (www.completetax.com): Free federal and state online tax preparation and free e-filing if your adjusted gross income is $28,500 or less
• Taxslayer.com (www.taxslayer.com): Free online tax prep and e-file if you are age 25 or younger, age 61 or older, or if you are on active military duty
• TaxACT.com (www.taxact.com): Free federal online tax preparations and e-filing with a charge of $7.95 to prepare and e-file the North Dakota return
• eSMARTtax (www.esmarttax.com): Free state e-filing when completed with a paid federal e-filing for $9.95.
• H&R Block (www.hrblock.com): Free federal online tax preparation and e-filing if your adjusted gross income is $34,000 or less. There is a charge of $19.95 to prepare and e-file the North Dakota return.

To e-file, determine your eligibility with the company you choose and prepare your tax return. It is important to understand each company’s financial criteria, as you could be charged a fine if you exceed the gross income amount. The company will transmit your filed returns to the IRS using the secure e-file system. E-mail will be sent from the company notifying you of acceptance or rejection of your return.

For more information, visit E-file (www.aboutefile.com), IRS.gov (www.irs.gov/efile) or DiscoverND (www.state.nd.us/taxdpt).

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Source: N.D. Tax Department, (701) 328-2770
Writer: Emily Barenthsen, (701) 231-8371, emily.barenthsen@ndsu.edu
Editor: Ellen Crawford, (701) 231-5391, ccrawford@ndsuext.nodak.edu

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