File taxes online for free

David Reber's Hammer Photographer/Flickr

Here are three places where you can file your taxes online for free. If you are doing your taxes yourself, check out these basic tax tips to get started. If you are hiring a tax professional, make sure to ask these five questions.

Okay, here is how to file your taxes online for free.

Option No. 1. You can file your federal returns for free using the traditional IRS Free File, which offers step-by-step help if your adjusted gross income is $56,000 or less (this number could vary slightly for 2009). The software puts your answers directly into the forms and does the math for you. You can get a refund in as quickly as 10 days if you opt for direct deposit. This service is also available in Spanish.

Option No. 2. You can fill in your own tax forms without the help of software using the Free Fillable Forms, thanks to a partnership between the IRS and the Free File Alliance LLC, a group of private sector tax software companies.. This hands-off approach lets you prepare and e-file your 1040, 1040 A and 1040EZ federal returns. There are no income limits as with Option No. 1. State forms are not included.

Option No. 3. If you are a senior, you can get free tax preparation and filing help through AARP.

If your returns are complicated and you want to buy Turbo Tax or another program, remember to use a tax software coupon code!