IRS News Release  
January 30, 2002

IRS Works to Expand E-Filing Opportunities

WASHINGTON - As part of the Internal Revenue Service´s continuing effort to expand access to electronic filing, the agency plans to engage in a new round of dialogue with the tax preparation industry. This process will include an e-filing forum for the IRS to seek out views and suggestions from industry leaders.

IRS Commissioner Charles O. Rossotti said the discussions with industry representatives will explore ways to work cooperatively to create and expand ways to provide free electronic filing to more taxpayers.

The IRS will work cooperatively with the Treasury Department, the Office of Management and Budget, Congress and other stakeholders on this issue.

"The IRS is committed to working with the private sector to expand e-filing opportunities for taxpayers," Rossotti said. "As customer surveys show every year, people who use e-file like it. We want more people to take advantage of this innovative program.

IRS e-file is fast, easy, and safe; more than 40 million Americans chose IRS e-file options during 2001 – 13.6 percent more than the year before. The IRS expects about 45 million to e-file during 2002. During 2001, more than 6.8 million taxpayers filed from their home computers through a third-party on-line service provider, 36 percent more than in 2000. Information about e-file is available by going to the IRS Web site at www.irs.gov.

On the IRS Web site, www.irs.gov., there are links to e-filing opportunities provided by the private sector, and some of these sites enable users to e-file for free.

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