As the tax deadline fast approaches, it's easy to be a little less careful in the rush. So, if you're trying to get free tax preparation from the IRS Free File program, beware of look alikes.
Free File is a partnership between the IRS and 19 tax software companies to electronically file returns for free for individuals with adjusted gross income of up to $57,000 last year. You can only access Free File through the IRS Web site.
I was writing about Free File for Sunday's column when all of a sudden an e-mail from FreeFileNow.org popped up in my basket. It sounds well-intentioned with the "org" at the end of its Web address. Click on the site and it has the IRS icon "IRS e-file." But FreeFileNow has nothing to do with the IRS program.
Apparently FreeFileNow is part of eSmartTax, which is part of Liberty Tax Service. (Liberty Tax participates in the IRS Free File program so why it's trying to lure in customers using a similar sounding program is unclear.)
Steven Mullen, a spokesman fro FreeFileNow, disavows any attempt to confuse taxpayers by launching a site with a name similar to the IRS program.
"It's a good name," he says. And what about the IRS icon on the site? FreeFileNow doesn't imply that it's part of the IRS program, Mullen maintains.
Another area of concern: FreeFileNow says it offers benefits such as "refund maximizer" and "biggest refund guarantee."
IRS spokesman Jim Dupree says tax preparer can't make promises about refunds before even looking at your paperwork. And the IRS routinely warns consumers to avoid preparers promising to secure a bigger refund for you than another preparer.
The Free File Alliance is the umbrella group for the IRS's 19 partners. Tim Hugo, executive director of the alliance, says the group tried to lock up all the domain names around Free File. "That's one we haven't locked up," he says.
Participants in the IRS program have all undergone government testing. And the IRS Free File program won't pitched other products to you, Hugo says. "The only thing you can purchase if you want is a state return. Most will do a free state return, too," he says.
Again, if you're looking for the IRS Free File program, go to the IRS Web site.
UPDATED: Still struggling with some questions about your taxes? Tune in for Eileen's live chat on taxes, starting at noon today (Friday, April 9).