This post is by Jonnelle Marte at SmartMoney.

Taxpayers with simple returns have several new ways to file without having to pay for help.

The average cost for having an accountant prepare a Form 1040 with a Schedule A and a state tax return was $233 in 2011, up 1.7% from 2009, according to the National Society of Accountants.

But the options for free tax help are growing. The Internal Revenue Service, for instance, offers Free File, a program that offers free tax-preparation software and other tools for taxpayers with low to moderate incomes. Through the IRS site, taxpayers who make $57,000 or less can answer a few questions about their income, location and whether they qualify for certain credits before selecting from a list of companies that offer free tax preparation software. The IRS also offers Fillable Forms, electronic versions of IRS tax forms, for people who are comfortable calculating their own taxes.

Some tax prep companies are setting up shop inside stores to give people free tax help as they pick up clothes and laundry detergent. Wal-Mart, for example, is working with Jackson Hewitt and H&R Block to set up 3,000 tax preparation kiosks at its stores across the United States. Jackson Hewitt is offering free Form 1040EZ filing at Wal-Mart through the April 17 tax deadline; H&R Block is offering similar help for free through Feb. 29.

In addition to the Free File program, the IRS also offers free tax help over the phone and in person for seniors, people with disabilities and non-English speakers. Last tax season, more than 88,000 volunteers helped prepare more than 3 million tax returns for free, according to the IRS.

Tax experts warn that filers may still find themselves with a bill if their tax returns aren’t as basic as anticipated. For instance, while some of the companies offering services through Free File also offer free state tax return preparation, other companies charge $30 or more per form for the latter.

People with other complications, say a couple who just had a child, bought a home or are taking several deductions and credits, may not qualify for the 1040EZ and might be better off paying for professional help to make sure they don’t miss out on any big tax breaks, says Gene King, a spokesman for H&R Block. “The advantages could mean thousands of dollars for certain taxpayers,” says King.

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