Washington ? A few tax specialists started replacing stamps with mouse clicks in 1986, when the Internal Revenue Service tested electronic filing as a pilot program in three cities.

The IRS now is now aiming for 80 percent e-filing by 2007. To help make that happen, the agency announced a program Thursday that gives people access to free tax preparation software through the April 15 filing deadline. Free Filing, a government partnership with 17 private tax software companies, will let 60 percent of taxpayers, or 78 million, file returns online for free.

Eligibility requirements from the participating companies are based on factors such as age, adjusted gross income, state residency, military status or eligibility to file a Form 1040EZ or for the Earned Income Tax Credit. Taxpayers can complete an online questionnaire to determine if they qualify.

The IRS received nearly 85 million paper returns last year and 46 million electronic returns. Officials estimate 54 million will file electronically this year.