If you have access to a computer and the Internet you may be eligible to prepare and file your 2007 federal tax return electronically—for free. Free File is an easy way to file your taxes and get your refund in half the time.

The IRS and the Free File Alliance, a private-sector consortium of tax software companies, continue their partnership to help taxpayers earning $54,000 or less electronically prepare and file their federal tax returns for free. Free File made its debut during the 2003 filing season as a way to provide free services to moderate and low-income taxpayers. For the 2007 filing season 97 million taxpayers will be eligible for these free tax services.

Taxpayers access Free File through the IRS Web site at IRS.gov. Each company sets its own criteria for free usage. The criteria are usually based on income, state residency and age.

Filing electronically is fast, accurate and secure. Last year almost 60% of all taxpayers filed their tax returns electronically including 3.8 million who used Free File through the IRS website. The benefits of using Free File, like those of e-file, include:

• Reduced tax return preparation time
• Faster refunds
• Accuracy of return
• Acknowledgement that the return is received

For more information on Free File, check out the IRS Web site at IRS.gov.

Remember that for the genuine IRS Web site be sure to use .gov. Don't be confused by internet sites that end in .com, .net, .org or other designations instead of .gov. The address of the official IRS governmental Web site is www.irs.gov.