Free, comprehensive tax preparation and online document filing, otherwise known as e-filing, is now provided to an estimated 70 percent of all United States taxpayers through a partnership between a coalition of high-profile tax software companies and the Internal Revenue Service.

Comprising 14 industry-leading tax software companies, the Free File Alliance has partnered with the IRS since 2003 to offer assistance to low and middle-income Americans as they prepare their federal tax returns online.

About 40 million returns have been filed through Free File since its inception.

The Free File service is available to all taxpayers with a 2013 Adjusted Gross Income of $58,000 or less who visit www.IRS.gov/freefile, where they will be able to prepare, complete and submit their federal tax returns at no cost to them.

Free File also offers a basic federal e-filing service -- called "Free File Fillable Forms" -- which imposes no income limitations.

"Free File is here to make tax time less taxing," said Tim Hugo, executive director of the Free File Alliance. "Free File is your portal to free tax software from more than a dozen of the country's top companies. It's all online" and unlike with many commercial products, "there are no pop-up ads."

Software from the Free File Alliance provides step-by-step help and calculations that could make tax filing a quick, simple and convenient process, Hugo said.

Then, once a taxpayer has completed an e-filing, a confirmation email will be quickly sent out, confirming that annual task has been successfully completed and nothing else needs to be done for another year.

On top of all else, e-filing done through the Free File program often sees refunds sent out in as few as 10 days, the alliance said.

After entering the www.IRS.gov/freefile site, users may either choose a company that they've determined best fits their tax situation or utilize the "Help me Find Free File Software" tool, which guides them to company matches.

After selecting a company, a user is transferred to the company's website to prepare, complete and electronically file their return. The service is also available in Spanish.