submitted by Montana Credit Unions for Community Development

Free tax sites across Montana helped tax payers obtain more than $14.5 million in federal tax refunds for the just-ended 2009 tax season as a result of the 14,279 tax returns it prepared, according to the IRS.

The success of free tax services owes greatly to www.MontanaFreeFile.org and the partner organizations which maintain it.

MontanaFreeFile.org is a one-stop shop for Montanans seeking information about free tax filing services, volunteer opportunities, and other tax-related information. The website, in its fifth year of existence, provides information on programs such as Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, the Earned Income Tax Credit, AARP Tax-Aide and do-it-yourself online filing programs. Among the useful information provided, the site provides visitors with directions, hours and contact information to tax site locations across the state.

MontanaFreeFile.org is maintained by Montana Legal Services Association, Montana’s Credit Unions, the Montana Department of Revenue, Opportunity Link Inc., Rural Dynamics Inc. and AARP Tax-Aide.

The popularity of MontanaFreeFile.org, and electronic filing resources generally, illustrate the site’s value in helping Montanans save money on their taxes.

From January 1 to April 15, 2010, there were 29,098 visitors to MontanaFreeFile.org. Approximately 6,400 Montanans accessed the free online tax filing program, I CAN! E-File™, promoted on www.MontanaFreeFile.org. The 6,400 Montana filers using the I-CAN! program received more than $10 million in tax refunds.

The Montana Department of Revenue saw an increase of 5.3% in e-filed income tax returns over the prior year. Like last year, the Department’s free online tax filing service was promoted on MontanaFreeFile.org . Overall the Department received a total of 332,183 e-filed state tax returns in 2010.

MontanaFreeFile.org is available all year. For more information, visit www.MontanaFreeFile.org or call Montana Legal Services hotline at 1-800-666-6899.