After budget cuts, IRS encourages use of free tax service

The Internal Revenue Service says budget cuts will affect your ability to get tax help from them this season. But they have found a way to alleviate some of the stress and help you get an early start on filing.

The IRS is offering access to free tax prep software called FreeFile, designed to help you get an early start.

The service is available at no charge to anyone making less than $60,000 in income.

The IRS says that's 70 percent of all tax payers, or 100 million individuals and families.

The program is all a part of an agreement between the agency and 14 companies.

Last year 3.2 million returns were filed using FreeFile.

You can find the free file program at www.IRS.gov