What is the Earliest Date I Can File My Taxes for 2009?

Eager to get those tax forms filled out? Ready to get your tax refund now? You can start filing your taxes as early as Janurary 1, 2010. In order to file taxes, you must have all your tax forms from your employer in hand — that is any W2s or 1099s from all jobs you worked in the past year. It’s unlikely that you will have received these forms by January 1, as they are not required to be mailed until the end of January.

Once you’ve received your W2 or 1099 from your employer, you can immediately begin to file your tax return using an efile program. We recommend TurboTax which includes a free federal efile. See our other recommendations on tax software.

Best Free eFile Tax Programs

Now that you’re ready to begin your taxes, the next step is to choose an eFile program. Many are free for Federal returns, and charge a fee for state filing. We recommend the following tax software:

• TurboTax – Free Federal and $29.95 State
• H&R Block At Home – Free Federal and $29.95 State

Both TurboTax and H&R Block at Home offer great solutions no matter the complexity of your tax returns. For basic filers with limited deductions, the free versions of these programs will be acceptable. But if you run a small business, have a lot of investments, or a lot of deductions, you will want to upgrade to a more comprehensive package.