An Internet facsimile apparatus includes a network communication unit for communicating with an external apparatus in direct SMTP via a network; a printing unit for printing image data received through the network communication unit from the external apparatus; and a response mode selecting unit for selecting between setting a first response mode to send a response right after image data reception acknowledging reception of the image data and setting a second mode to send a response after image data printing is completed when image data sent by direct SMTP communication is received through said network communication unit.