Tax advice from a guy who can't figure out what's 15% of the check at a restaurant

Last year, I was a tax laggard. I think I got my 1040s and my W-2s and my 1089s or what-have-you all sorted out over the course of a month and a half, about three line items at a time. I seem to remember electronically filing my returns at just a few minutes after midnight on the day of April 14.

I didn't say I was late, I just said I was a laggard.

This year, I hope to do things differently. I actually still have some of my tax-form information from last year! That's a first. I don't know why, but this year I feel like Ned Flanders: being awoken from the sound of fireworks on New Year's in order to hurriedly start doing his taxes that same night. Trouble is, I don't have my W-2 yet. I probably won't get it for another few weeks.

But don't fret, folks, I'm here to help. When I do get my W-2, I'll immediately go to the IRS website's page on the Free File Alliance. Yes, you heard right. Companies on the Internet will prepare and file your federal tax returns for you for free. And the IRS just posted this year's list of FFA-supporting companies. (I checked earlier this month and they weren't out yet.) Each of them has different criteria, most based on your Adjusted Gross Income. $40,000 or less? $28,000 or more? Odds are most people will fall into at least one of those categories, so picking a third party to prepare your returns is a tempting prospect. How about this one? "Free federal online tax preparation and e-filing for all taxpayers. No restrictions. Everyone qualifies." When the IRS tries to lower the volume of paper returns and tax companies compete for business with a chance at selling you extra features and tax help, you, the taxpayer, win. Win in the arena of convenience.

I've filed electronically the last three years or so, and I have to say it's a relatively painless experience. H&R Block frowns at me when I go to their tax center wearing nothing but boxer shorts and a bathrobe, but their website doesn't seem to mind it as much.