The IRS has expanded its Free File program this year. Taxpayers with an AGI (adjusted gross income) of $52,000 or less are eligible to e-file their tax returns for free.

That means that 70% (95 million) of all taxpayers will be eligible to file 2006 tax returns for no fee through one of the private sector tax software companies who are part of the Free File Alliance, LLC.

Free File for 2006:

* Free File is a free service offered by companies for taxpayers with an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $52,000 or less.

* Before selecting a company link, review the tax software company’s criteria to confirm that you meet their eligibility for preparing and e-filing your federal return for free.

* Fees for state tax returns may apply. Some companies offer free state tax return preparation and e-filing. Check company websites for more details.

* Some companies offer extensions for free.

* Some companies offer free e-filing of the Form 1040EZ-T, Telephone Excise Tax Refund, for those who want to claim the refund credit and are not required to file a federal income tax return.

* You are under no obligation to buy any of the company’s other products or services.

To use the service, go to: Free File: Getting Started

We’ve all seen the ads that promise big income for little investment. The jobs that promise us more free time and greater control over our lives. Usually the ads or emails declare something along the line of “Work From Home Stuffing Envelopes!”. Sounds like easy money, and it can be – if you are the scammer who places the ad.

Envelope-stuffing scams are pretty basic. You pay a small fee to get started. What you receive, however, will be instructions on how to send the same envelope-stuffing ad out to others in bulk emailings. The only money you may earn comes from others who fall for the scheme. Congratulations, you’ve become a scammer too.

Let’s face it, unsolicited email offers are not likely to result in legitimate employment. Although there are real jobs you can do from home, envelope-stuffing is one of the oldest scams, dating back well before email when the ads were found in the back of tabloids and magazines. It’s tried and true and still entices enough people to make it worthwhile for the scammer.

Make your work at home the task of deleting these email schemes as soon as they hit your inbox.

According to a Harris interactive poll on Attitudes in the Workplace, employees of smaller companies found more job satisfaction than those working for larger companies.

The survey also showed that employees of smaller companies were less likely to feel their job demands interfered with personal and family needs.

Income was higher for employees of larger companies with 17% of employees earning $100,000 before taxes as opposed to only 5% of employees of small companies attaining that salary.

But income isn’t always the most important factor. Many workers cite home and family obligations, job stress and other considerations as being key to their employment decisions.

Looking for a great place to work? The Great Place To Work Institute can help guide you with their list of the Best Small & Medium Companies to Work For in America.

Ever wish that was there was a way to make extra money by using your net connection? Perhaps you’ve even dreamed of finding a way to earn that doesn’t involve the daily commute and rat race. Well, there is a way but it involves a lot of hard work to begin with.

Don’t get interested in the hundreds of offers to make a fortune by doing some repetitive task online – those only make money for the ones running the show. Be independent and try blogging (short for web logging – once an online diary but now it can mean anything that is regularly updated with new information).

Blogging is a buzz word of the moment and there are all sorts of stories about it floating around, some true, some laughably false. As a way to put your thoughts online, it’s fine and you could get much enjoyment from it. But, as a means to make money, it has to be taken much more seriously than that. It requires determination and commitment to succeed in this field.

Before you start, you should find out as much as possible about the pitfalls and possibilities inherent in blogging. And there is no better way to learn about it than at Darren Rowse’s ProBlogger. Darren started with a personal blog, an online diary, became interested in the new medium and began to look at ways to make it pay. He started a few blogs, and then ProBlogger as a way of passing on what he had learned to others trying to do the same thing.

ProBlogger is now the best source of information on earning from blogs and there is no better place to start if you want to try blogging. Be warned however: Darren pulls no punches and does not pretend that it is easy!