Irs Expands Phone Filing To Every State

For about 3 million taxpayers, filing a return to the Internal Revenue Service next year could be as easy as picking up a telephone and punching in some numbers.

The IRS announced Tuesday it will expand its TeleFile program nationwide for taxpayers filing their 1995 returns.

Next month, 23 million taxpayers who use Form 1040EZ will be mailed special booklets giving them the option of filing by telephone, toll-free. The IRS predicts 3 million will take advantage of the program, up from 680,000 this year.

For the first time next year, the process will be completely paperless. Taxpayers will end their call by using a personal identification number, which will substitute for a signature. Previously, taxpayers had to follow up a telephone return by mailing a signature form.