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Find 2016 IRS Income Tax Forms Online: Where To Find Forms 1040 And Earned Income Tax Credit, Plus How To File Online For Free

By Nathan Francis
Published on: 18:39 PST, Jan 23, 2016

Those looking to find 2016 IRS income tax forms online are in luck, as the tax-collecting agency has moved all of its necessary forms online for taxpayers to download and print out.

This year bring a major push for the agency, which has increased access to the most popular forms online (links to download 2016 tax forms can be found below).

While this push is a good thing for the technology savvy, taxpayers used to stopping at the library to pick up their annual income tax forms may be out of luck this year. More and more people are filing their taxes online — 95 percent of people used electronic filing last year — which has led the IRS to move away from physical forms. The number of tax products available in public library is down drastically this year, with many no longer carrying the popular 1040 IRS forms.

So that means more people are turning to the internet, with many searching for the first time where they can find the IRS income tax forms online.

There is now a push for the IRS to make even more tax forms available online. Montana Senator Jon Tester is calling on the agency to post copies of these forms online, as reports indicated that at least some of the necessary forms were not available in a usable way.

“Tax season is often a stressful time for many Americans and with even more complexity being added to our tax code, it is important that we find ways to streamline the process,” Tester wrote (via KMMS). “Both the taxpayer and the IRS would benefit from having all necessary forms readily accessible via the Internet.”

Luckily, the IRS offers plenty of help. That includes a tool for those unsure if they need to file income taxes. The process takes about 12 minutes, IBT reported.

The IRS offers more than just tax forms online. It also has some free online programs available to more than 70 percent of taxpayers that will offer help with putting it all together.

As MassLive.com reported, taxpayers can also go directly to the IRS website to file their taxes:

“The IRSFree File program at IRS.gov began Friday, Jan. 15, and the IRS begins accepting and processing all tax returns on Tuesday, Jan. 19.”

“The software is free to those who qualify. Commercial partners of the IRS offer free brand-name software to about 100 million individuals and families with incomes of $62,000 or less. Seventy percent of the nation’s taxpayers are eligible for IRS Free File.”

While free is always good when it comes to filing taxes, the paid programs offer their own benefits, IBT reported.

“You can also purchase tax filing programs like TaxCut, H&R Block or TurboTax, which come in both online (sometimes these are free) and desktop versions,” the report noted. “Unlike their online counterparts, the desktop programs save your tax return and information on your computer, which means it’s always accessible, even without an internet connection and also less of a hassle to input your personal information the following tax year.”

Those who want to find 2016 IRS income tax forms online can click here for the essentials, including the 1040, child tax credits, and the earned income tax credit. Taxpayers can also call the IRS directly at 1-800-829-3676 and they will send pertinent forms by mail.

[Picture by Scott Olson/Getty Images]

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