E-filing is easy, accurate — and speeds up your return

Whether you use a professional tax preparer authorized by the IRS or do it yourself on a home computer, there are many reasons to consider filing your tax return electronically this year, including speed, accuracy and ease.

But one of the biggest reasons is that you can get a quicker refund.

Generally, when you file electronically, your refund will be issued in about half the time it would take if you filed a paper return. Those who choose direct deposit will get their refund in even less time.

The IRS is again offering eligible taxpayers the opportunity to electronically prepare and file their tax returns for free through the Free File Alliance, a partnership between the IRS and software companies.

For information on taxpayer eligibility, visit the Free File Web page on the IRS Web site at www.irs.gov. The site also has more on e-filing.

— Internal Revenue Service

H&R Block: www.hrblock.com/taxes/tools. Contains tax tips and calculators.

Smartmoney.com: www.smartmoney.com/tax. Features tax basics and worksheets.

Tax Hawk: www.taxhawk.com. Select "Tax Tips" for a list of common tax mistakes.