However, e-file is not available for everyone. Or, a tax preparer might e-file for you as part of their services. You can e-file on your own through a number of online or software programs. Compared to sending your paper return through the mail, e-file has the advantage of reducing the processing time, which can help you get your refund more quickly. What is e-filing?Įlectronic filing, or e-filing, is the process of submitting your completed income tax return to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) over the Internet. To help you understand what the terms e-file and free federal e-file mean, we’ll outline the relevant concepts in this post. E-filing and free federal e-file are terms that you might hear around tax season, but it’s only one part of preparing your taxes.
