RICHMOND, Va. (CBSDC/AP) — Gov. Bob McDonnell says more than 2 million low- to moderate-income Virginia taxpayers can use the state’s free online program to prepare and file their state and federal returns electronically.

McDonnell said Tuesday during a public briefing that only a fraction of taxpayers who qualified for the Virginia Free File program last year used it.

VA Free File is a public-private partnership between the Virginia Department of Taxation and the Free File Alliance, a coalition of commercial tax-software companies. This VA Free File is modeled after the highly successful Internal Revenue Service Free File program used by millions of taxpayers since 2003.

The state Department of Taxation offers another free online program that can be used by most taxpayers who don’t qualify for Virginia Free File. The Free Fillable forms program offers free online versions of Virginia’s 760 return and schedules for Virginia residents.

Both programs can be accessed on the Department of Taxation’s website at www.tax.virginia.gov.

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