Prepare and file your taxes online – for free – directly with the IRS. Direct File is simple, accurate and secure. Check if Direct File is right for you Check eligibility now Answer a few questions to find out if Direct File is the right option for your 2024 taxes. Direct File will be back in 2025 Direct File will be available when the tax filing season opens in 2025. The federal tax filing deadline is April 15, 2025. Direct File will be available until October 15, 2025. More taxpayers in more states will be able to file their 2024 federal taxes online – for free – directly with the IRS. You can use one login and password to securely verify your identity for Direct File and most other tax tools. Sign-in to access your IRS Direct File account with ID.me Participating states Direct File is an option if you lived and worked in a participating state for all of 2024. Alaska Arizona California Connecticut Florida Idaho Kansas Maine Maryland Massachusetts Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina Oregon Pennsylvania South Dakota Tennessee Texas Washington state Wisconsin Wyoming You can't use Direct File if you didn't live in one of these states for all of 2024. Income, credits and deductions supported You can use IRS Direct File if you have these types of income, credits and deductions: Income W-2 wage income SSA-1099 Social Security income 1099-G unemployment compensation 1099-INT interest income 1099- R retirement income 1099-MISC for Alaska residents reporting the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend You can't use Direct File if you had other types of income, such as gig economy, rental or business income. Credits Earned Income Tax Credit Child Tax Credit Credit for Other Dependents Child and Dependent Care Credit Premium Tax Credit Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled Retirement Savings Contributions Credit If you live in Washington state, Direct File will guide you to your state site where you can apply for the Working Families Tax Credit. Deductions Standard deduction Student loan interest Educator expenses Health Savings Account contributions You can't use Direct File if you itemize deductions. Filing state returns Direct File doesn't prepare state returns. If you need to file a state return, Direct File will guide you to a state-supported preparation and filing tool after you’ve finished your federal return. Visit the state websites to find information about income tax filing in your state. If IRS Direct File is not an option for you If IRS Direct file is not an option for you, there are other ways to file a return: An IRS Free File partner Free tax return preparation from IRS-certified volunteers E-file with commercial tax prep software Authorized IRS e-file providers for individuals Paper tax returns with or without payment Online customer support You can chat live or request a callback from an IRS Direct File customer service representative when you’re logged in. We offer technical support and answer basic tax law questions in English and Spanish. Questions or issues unrelated to Direct File are routed to other IRS support staff. Resources Subscribe to the Direct File newsletter IRS YouTube video: File for free with IRS Direct File Publication 5916, File for free with IRS Direct File PDF Publication 5917, IRS Direct File - What you need to Know PDF Publication 5949, Helpful tips to prepare you for IRS Direct File PDF Publication 5952, Are you ready to file with IRS Direct File? PDF Publication 6035, IRS Direct File Media Guide PDF Publication 6036, IRS Direct File Outreach Guide PDF If you filed your 2023 taxes with the IRS Direct File pilot You can confirm the IRS accepted your return. You can also view and download it. Access your Direct File account and download your return Go to Direct File and click the Sign-in button. Select Review to go to your submission details. Scroll down and select Download my 2023 federal tax return submission. Print and save the Form 1040 PDF file. If the IRS accepted your Direct File return Check your refund or view your balance due in your online account. If the IRS rejected your Direct File return Your Direct File return is not filed if you received an email that the IRS rejected it. You still need to file your return. You can’t resubmit a return with Direct File or use guided tax software this year. To file your return, you can: Check if you qualify for free tax help from IRS-certified volunteers Find a tax preparer near you File by paper To file by paper Sign in to Direct File and download your return Review the error. Make sure your personal and employment information is correct. File a paper Form 1040. Mail your return to the IRS and attach a copy of the IRS Direct File rejection email. If you filed a state return for Arizona, California, New York or Massachusetts Contact your state tax authority if you used a state-supported tool to prepare and file your state tax return. If you didn’t file your 2023 taxes yet You can e-file through October 15, 2024. If you attempted to file electronically, follow these correction procedures if it was rejected. Pay any tax you owe as soon as possible to avoid penalties and interest. If you don’t usually file Consider filing your taxes anyway. You could get money back if you: Qualify for a refundable tax credit Had federal income tax withheld from your pay Paid estimated taxes If you receive an IRS letter about your 2023 taxes We send notices and letters to ask about your return, alert you about a change to your account or request payment. Reply only if we ask you to or if you don’t agree. If you received a CP303 Notice after you used Direct File, you don't need to do anything. If you didn’t sign in to Direct File and received this notice, call the number on your notice. If you find a mistake after you file your taxes If you made math errors, you generally don’t have to amend a return. We’ll correct those errors and mail you a notice. If you made other errors, you may want to file an amended return. You can’t use Direct File to file an amended return. Check if you qualify for free tax help from IRS-certified volunteers. About the IRS Direct File pilot On May 3, 2024, the IRS released Publication 5969, IRS Direct File Pilot Program: Filing Season 2024 After Action Report PDF. The report examines the Direct File pilot in detail: the pilot itself, the technology and taxpayer experience, Direct File’s innovative customer support system, integration with state tax systems, and the pilot’s cost and benefits.
