It's the same problem each and every year. You need to spend hours poring over the most recent instructions for the federal and state 1040 forms ? which are only minutely different than last year's, but you have to be sure you aren't missing some evasive new tax law ? then another few hours compiling all your documents in an order than makes some sense. Once that's done, you begin the tedious process of computing each individual line and printing your responses in painstakingly neat handwriting just to know for absolute certainty that someone at the Internal Revenue Service won't bounce your return back as unreadable.

Your return has been signed, placed in an eight by ten manila envelope and mailed to the IRS. Even though you mailed it registered, with return receipt requested no less, you worry that it never made it, that someone lost it, or that some small error will come up and push you beyond the looming April 15th deadline.

If you haven't started using computerized tax filing software, this probably isn't so far from the truth. You may have heard of these programs and passed them off as not worth the investment. Each and every year, tax payers spend at minimum eight hours, and usually closer to fifteen to twenty hours, completing their tax returns. Even earning minimum wage, that eight hour time investment would have returned nearly sixty bucks at work ? substantially more than the cost of completing and eFiling your tax return online.

Not only does eFiling save you time, it saves you money. Since these programs are made to know the current year's tax code, you can avoid many common mistakes. You don't need to worry about incorrectly computing a specific line or claiming a deduction that isn't actually deductible. Using these programs will prevent many seemingly minor errors which often result in hefty fees and fines from the IRS.

Once you've completed your return on your computer, eFiling is the best way to submit it. The IRS's strict standards for eFile providers ensure that your return will be transmitted securely. With the "Free File" program, you may even be able to eFile your federal tax forms without any processing fees. Best of all, the eFile provider will keep you up to date on the status of your return, from submission to processing, so you never need to worry that the IRS hasn't received it.

Because of the popularity of this method, all but two states (and those that don't have an income tax system) also offer electronic systems to file state income tax forms. While the tax forms vary from federal to state, you almost always need the same information. If you use tax software to complete and eFile your federal return, chances are you'll be able to do the same with your state return.