IRS Free File Performance Measures - Summary View
The IRS’s Free File program allows eligible taxpayers to prepare and electronically file their tax returns over the Internet using commercial software for free.
About 70 percent of all filers, or nearly 95 million Americans (those with an AGI of $52,000 or less) were eligible for Free File in the 2007 filing season.
| Metric Name | Measure | Measure Period | 2008 Target | Description/Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % of potential tax filing public eligible to use Free File | 70% | 2008 Filing Season | Not Available | 95 million out of a total of 135 million total tax filers are eligible to use Free File. The Free File program is limited to taxpayers with an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $52,000 or less. 70% is based on negotiations with the Free File alliance. |
| % of Free File eligible tax payers using Free File | 4% | 2007 Filing Season as of 10/07 | 6% | 3,868,578 out of a total of 79,979,568 returns were electronically filed through the Free File program as of October 21, 2007. 61% of individual returns are prepared by paid preparers leaving a potential target market for Free File of 39% or 37 million returns. Targets are based on e-File projected growth. |
| % of Free File users who were “very” satisfied with Free File | 78% | 2006 Filing Season | 82% | This rating is based on a score from 0-100 of Free File users surveyed during May/June 2006. |
| % of Free File users who intend to use Free File again | 95% | 2007 Filing Season | 95% | This rating is based on a score from 0-100 of Free File users surveyed during May/June 2006. |
| Cost Avoided by public through using Free File | Not Available | Not Available | Not Available | Cost savings to citizens using Free File services to prepare and electronically file tax returns (software, transmission fees, etc.) |
| IRS Cost Savings | $9.1 million | 2007 Filing Season as of 10/07 | $13 million | The cost to receive and process an individual return electronically is $2.36 less than a paper return as estimated by the IRSas of March 29, 2007. Cost savings are calculated by multiplying the number of returns filed through Free File by $2.36. |
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