What is TeleFile?

The IRS discontinued its TeleFile program effective August 17, 2005. TeleFile allowed taxpayers to file Forms 1040EZ, 4868, and 941 by telephone.

TeleFile is an interactive computer program that calculates your tax and begins the e-filing process over the phone. The IRS automatically sends a special TeleFile tax package to those who may be eligible to use it. Only those receiving the TeleFile tax package from the IRS can use TeleFile. This tax year, many taxpayers who filed Form 1040EZ or filed by TeleFile last tax year will receive a special TeleFile tax package from the IRS that allows them to file their tax return electronically by phone. TeleFile is easy, fast, and free. It's available 24 hours a day, with nothing to mail in.

The TeleFile service is only available if you file Form 1040EZ, get the TeleFile tax booklet (TEL-1) in the mail from the IRS, and meet the following qualifications:

	you still live at the same address printed on your TeleFile tax record;
	you file your tax return as single or married filing jointly;
	you are under 65 years of age on January 1, 2005;
	you had taxable income only from wages, salaries, tips, taxable scholarship or fellowship grants; unemployment compensation; interest (less than $1,500 and no withholding tax deduction); Alaska Permanent Fund Dividends (no withholding tax deduction);
	have use of a Touch-Tone telephone. (For best results, don't use cordless or cellular phones or phones with a key pad in the receiver.)

You cannot use TeleFile to file your tax return if you:

	need to change your tax return filing status, name, or address;
	need to claim any dependents;
	need to claim a tax deduction(s) on your tax return for being over 65 or blind;
	did not receive the TEL-1 tax booklet from the IRS;
	are filing the tax return of a deceased taxpayer;
	received any advance earned income tax credit payments;
	repaid any unemployment compensation in 2004.

If you are eligible to use TeleFile to file your tax return, you should complete the information provided in the TeleFile tax booklet and then call the IRS toll-free telephone number in the tax booklet. The interactive computer program will instruct you on how to use the touch-tone telephone to fill in required tax information for your tax return.

Note: Even if you use TeleFile to file your tax return, you will be required to mail any tax that is owed to the IRS by April 15th.

An even faster way to get your tax refund is
to e-file your tax return right from this web site by clicking

Related tax information about IRS TeleFile

Tax Directory Topics:
Electronic Filing

IRS publications about IRS TeleFile:
For further information about IRS TeleFile refer to Tax Topic 255, TeleFile. Also see IRS Publication 17,

Your Federal Income Tax. Please read this IMPORTANT Editor's Note regarding navigating IRS publications with Adobe Acrobat Reader.
IRS publications can also be ordered by calling 1-800-829-3676.

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