How to File Federal Tax Information in Washington State
- 1). Use the services of an IRS-approved Free File tax company to file your taxes through the Internet if you fall within the limited-income range (see Resources.) The maximum income that you can make and still use the Free File system is listed on the Free File page each year. If you think that you meet the income requirements to use the IRS Free File system, click on the “Help Me Find A Free File Company” button on the Free file page and enter the information on the form that comes up. Washington state-based tax companies that will file your federal tax information for free, or at a discounted rate, are listed on the page.
- 2). Complete your taxes on your own using the Free File fillable forms offered on the Free File system if you do not meet income requirements to get help filing from an IRS-approved tax company (see Resources.) Every taxpayer is eligible to use the Free File fillable forms and the forms are exactly the same as the 1040 forms that come with your tax package each year. Complete the forms online by clicking on the “Start Free File Fillable Forms” button, creating a new account for the website and filling in the information per the instructions listed on the 1040. When you have completed the online form, switch to the “E-file Your Tax Forms” in the Free File system, complete the form and submit. The form automatically goes to the correct tax office for Washington State.
- 3). Complete the paper Form 1040 tax return that comes in your tax packet using the basic instructions that are printed on the form and the detailed instructions provided with the form. While the Form 1040 that comes in your tax packet is exactly the same as the form used on Free File’s fillable forms, if you fill out the paper form, you must do all of the math on the form, while the Free File system calculates for you. Mail your completed Form 1040 to the proper tax office for Washington state, located at:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Fresno, CA 93888-0002
