Just File This Under IRS Taxpayer Perks

Up to 78 million taxpayers will probably be able to file their tax returns electronically without charge under an agreement between the Internal Revenue Service and a group of tax preparers and software publishers.

Taxpayers usually pay a fee, averaging $12.50, for online filing, and that is on top of charges for preparation services or software. Of the 125.6 million tax returns filed this year, 46.5 million were filed electronically.

Under terms of a deal with the Free File Alliance, participants in the consortium of preparers and filing services must provide free services to at least 10% of the taxpayers they serve to become a member of the organization.

Public access to the free service will be available on a Web site in January, an official said. Links to the service will be available through www.irs.gov and www.FirstGov.gov.