(WENY) -- Tax season is officially underway. The Internal Revenue Service started accepting and processing 2023 federal income tax returns, Monday morning.  

There are ways to prepare for filing your taxes as efficiently and inexpensively as possible.  

First of all, know your deadlines. Unless you file for a six-month extension, the deadline for most people is April 15th.  

You can also pull out your return from last year. Your 2022 tax return can be used as a good starting point for figuring out what documents you will need to have on hand to fill out this year’s return. 

It is also recommended to assess what big changes, if any, happened in your life during the past year. Changes could have an impact on filing your taxes.  

Lois Wilson, the Director of Communications and Community Engagement for the United Way of the Southern Tier, said over the past 14 years, the non-profit organization has helped people easily and accurately file their taxes from a computer, tablet, or smart phone.  

“The key is ... it’s free,” she said. “What we try to do at United Way is make sure people get the tax refund they deserve. We’re trying to make it as easy as possible and that’s where myfreetaxes.com comes into play.”  

Wilson said the website is just one of the many free online tools you can use to file your takes online, which is the preferred way by many. She added that most people who use this tool have had their taxes filed in less than an hour. 

“I think we all procrastinate when it comes to this and most people are going to get a refund,” she said. “So, why are you waiting?”