WASHINGTON - The Internal Revenue Service will add three excise tax forms this year to the ever-expanding list of federal tax returns and schedules that can be filed electronically.

“Electronic filing is a key component to modernizing our tax system,” IRS Acting Commissioner Kevin M. Brown said. “Expanding e-file opportunities to include excise tax returns will help improve service to taxpayers using these forms.”

The 2007 tax filing season set a number of electronic records, highlighted by more than 77 million electronically-filed individual tax returns.

IRS expects to receive the first electronically-filed excise tax return this summer, when Form 2290, Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax Return, becomes the first available excise tax return that can be e-filed. Last year, more than 575,000 Forms 2290 were filed with the IRS.

As the IRS begins implementation of electronic filing for excise tax returns later this year, taxpayers may continue to file paper Forms 2290, including those reporting 25 or more vehicles. IRS will issue further guidance regarding the applicable tax code section, IRC section 4481(e).

Form 720, Quarterly Federal Excise Tax Return, and Form 8849, Claim for Refund of Excise Taxes, will be available to e-file later this year.

Additional information about Electronic Excise is available.