ELMIRA, N.Y. (WENY) -- The United Way of the Southern Tier is offering a free, online, tax filling service for area residents to file their tax returns. The website can handle personal fillings, as well as returns for businesses, freelancers, and gig workers.

"There's guides to help you file your taxes and... walk you through it step by step, and it takes about an hour for most people to fill," said Lois Wilson, communications manager for United Way of the Southern Tier.

If you do not have internet access to file your taxes online, or do not know how to do so, you can call the regional helpline at 211. 

"If you don't have internet, they can help you find a place to get your taxes done locally," Wilson said.

The online website launched in 2009. So far, it has helped over 1.3 million people nationwide file their taxes.

"Back then there were very few places offering online filing," said Wilson. "Now, it's everywhere."

When it launched, the United Way partnered with H&R Block as their tax filing service, but this year, the organization has partnered with Tax Slayer. 

"The entire site is IRS approved and everything is secure and all your information goes directly to where it's supposed to and stays confidential," Wilson said.

The deadline to file is Tuesday, April 18. To use the free tax filing system provided by the United Way, visit www.myfreetaxes.com.