IRS Direct File news

May 31: Following a successful filing season pilot and feedback from a variety of partners, the Internal Revenue Service announced that it will make Direct File a permanent option for filing federal tax returns starting in the 2025 tax season.

The agency is exploring ways to expand Direct File to make more taxpayers eligible in the 2025 filing season and beyond by examining options to broaden Direct File’s availability across the nation, including covering more tax situations and inviting all states to partner with Direct File next year.

The decision follows a highly successful, limited pilot during the 2024 filing season, where 140,803 taxpayers in 12 states filed their taxes using Direct File. The IRS closely analyzed data collected during the pilot, held numerous meetings with diverse groups of stakeholders and gathered feedback from individual Direct File users, state officials and representatives across the tax landscape. The IRS heard directly from hundreds of organizations across the country, more than a hundred members of Congress and from those interested in using Direct File in the future.

“User experience – both within the product and integration with state tax systems – will continue to be the foundation for Direct File moving forward,” IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said. “We will focus, first and foremost, on continuing to get it right. Accuracy and comprehensive tax credit uptake will be paramount concerns to ensure taxpayers file a correct return and get the refund they’re entitled to. And our North Star will be improving the experience of tax filing itself and helping taxpayers meet their obligations as easily and quickly as possible.”

What happens next?

The IRS will make Direct File a permanent option to file federal tax returns, and we will work to expand the service and make it available to more taxpayers, starting with the next filing season. To that end, we are interested in working with all states that want to partner with Direct File; there will be no limit to the number of states that can participate in the coming year.

We are also exploring ways to make additional taxpayers eligible to use the system next year and beyond. Over the coming years, our goal is to gradually expand the scope of Direct File to support most common tax situations, focusing on tax situations that impact working families.

We’re mindful that the most important decision we made during the pilot was to focus on executional certainty. We took the time to get it right and found the right first step to test the demand and user experience and build a strong product. We will apply that same critical lesson next year as we take a strategic approach to expanding Direct File’s availability and capabilities.

We plan to announce additional details on the 2025 expansion in the coming months.

 

May 3: Two weeks after closing the Direct File pilot, the IRS released Publication 5969, IRS Direct File Pilot Program: Filing Season 2024 After Action Report PDF. The report examines the pilot itself, the technology and taxpayer experience, Direct File’s innovative customer support system, integration with state tax systems, and the cost and benefits of the pilot.

One key aspect of the pilot was learning more about what taxpayers expect from this kind of system. More than 15,000 Direct File users participated in the General Services Administration’s Touchpoints survey, which collects comprehensive user feedback about government systems. In the GSA Touchpoints survey about Direct File:

• 90% of respondents ranked their experience as Excellent or Above Average.
• When asked what they particularly liked, respondents most commonly cited Direct File’s ease of use, trustworthiness, and that it was free.
• 86% of respondents said that their experience with Direct File increased their trust in the IRS.
• 90% of survey respondents who used customer support rated that experience as Excellent or Above Average.

While the IRS has not made a decision about the future of Direct File, the After Action Report captures lessons from our initial analysis of the pilot’s data and user feedback. We have labeled these lessons opportunities, because they will help to both improve the tax filing ecosystem and inform the decision about Direct File’s future.

The IRS anticipates making a decision about the future of Direct File later this spring.

April 18: Hello again from the Direct File team.

That's a wrap – the Direct File tax filing season has come to a close. Our final filers in Massachusetts hit submit yesterday, and Direct File is now closed to new users.

Thank you

First, we want to take a moment to say thank you for trusting Direct File during this pilot year. From our first ever Direct Filer, through the public launch on March 8, to the end of the 2024 tax filing season, it has been an honor to serve you and help you file your taxes.

As we said at the very beginning, we built Direct File with taxpayers – not just for taxpayers. We continuously tested the service to make sure it was as easy to understand and use as possible. Thank you for your feedback and your patience as we worked hard to make the product better.

Thank you to states

We also wanted to give a huge thank you to our state partners for joining us in this pilot year – ensuring that taxpayers successfully complete their filing obligation remains one of our top principles, and we're grateful for all 12 pilot states joining us this year.

Here's what you need to know:

Resubmit rejected returns until April 20. IRS Direct File is available 24/7 until 11:59 p.m. in your time zone on April 20 to resubmit a rejected return online. You can't use Direct File to file an original return.

Get text chat support for resubmissions through April 20. IRS Direct File customer service representatives will be available daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET and on Saturday, April 20 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. Text chat with the IRS to get basic tax law assistance to help you resubmit your return.

Sign-in to Direct File account dashboard. If you filed your taxes with IRS Direct File, you can continue to sign-in securely to view and download your return. If the IRS accepted your Direct File return, you can check your refund or view your tax balance in your online account. The IRS lets you access most tax tools with one account using the same login and password.

Correct a mistake after you file your taxes. Use the Should I File an Amended Return tool to determine if you should file an amended return to correct an error or make other changes to your return. You can't use Direct File to file an amended return online but may qualify for free tax help from IRS-certified volunteers. Direct File is not available for taxpayers who need to file an amended return or request an extension to get more time to file your return.

More to come

In the coming weeks, we look forward to sharing with you how this season went, including data and stories from our users. In the meantime, thank you again and stay tuned.

Gratitude to all,

The Direct File Team

April 12: It's been four weeks since IRS Direct File launched and we've seen increasing interest from taxpayers in this new free service. Each week, we saw steady growth in people using Direct File, including several days this week with more than 5,000 returns accepted each day.

Taxpayers using Direct File have claimed more than $50 million in refunds. California, Texas, Florida, and Washington have the highest number of accepted returns to date.

Since Direct File launched, taxpayers have used Direct File's live customer support more than 25,000 times, where average wait times for assistance were consistently between 10 and 20 seconds and between a minute and two minutes during peak use. Use of live customer support picked up this week, with taxpayers using support nearly 8,700 times, with eligibility being the main topic of conversation.

IRS Direct File is available 24/7 until 11:59 p.m. in your time zone on April 15 — in English and Spanish — for eligible taxpayers to file online in Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. People in Massachusetts can use Direct File until April 17 to file, due to the Patriots' Day and Emancipation Day holidays.

IRS Direct File customer service representatives will be available daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET. including Saturday, April 13 and Sunday, April 14. Text chat with the IRS to get basic tax law help and technical support — in English and Spanish.

If your Direct File return was rejected, you have until April 20, 2024, to sign-in, correct and resubmit it. Customer support is available through April 20 to assist filers who submitted their tax return with Direct File before the filing deadline and need assistance with a resubmission.

April 11: IRS Direct File is available 24/7 until 11:59 p.m. in your time zone on April 15 — in English and Spanish — for eligible taxpayers to file online in Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. People in Massachusetts can use Direct File until April 17 to file, due to the Patriots' Day and Emancipation Day holidays.

Get text chat support. IRS Direct File customer service representatives will be available daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET. including Saturday, April 13 and Sunday, April 14. Text chat with the IRS to get basic tax law help and technical support — in English and Spanish.

IRS Direct File users can now import and automatically enter their prior year Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) to sign and validate their return. When a Direct File user signs in securely, they have completed the highest level of identity authentication and can securely import last year's AGI from their IRS account using information the IRS already has to sign and validate their return in Direct File. When self-preparing your taxes and filing electronically, you must sign and validate your electronic tax return by entering your prior year AGI or your prior year Self-Select PIN. Generally, tax software automatically enters the information for returning customers. Prior to this recent upgrade, you had to enter the information in Direct File yourself, causing delays or errors when information was not readily available to you. This update is an example of how Direct File was built from the ground up with taxpayers in mind, and we added improvements throughout the pilot based on taxpayer feedback.

Check out the top things to know about the IRS Direct File pilot as the April filing deadline approaches.

April 4: There’s still time to use IRS Direct File. IRS Direct File is open through April 15 for eligible taxpayers in 11 of 12 pilot states to file their 2023 federal tax return online for free. People in Massachusetts have until April 17 to file due to the Patriots’ Day and Emancipation Day holidays.

Sign-in any time to start and finish your federal tax return with Direct File by the April filing deadline. If you live in Arizona, California, Massachusetts or New York, you can go to your state’s site from Direct File to complete your state tax return.

Get text chat support. IRS Direct File customer service representatives will be available daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET. including Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7. Text chat with the IRS to get basic tax law help and technical support — in English and Spanish.

Know what to expect after you submit your return through IRS Direct File. You’ll be notified when the IRS accepts or rejects your return. If your return is rejected, that means you have not filed yet — go to your Direct File account dashboard and follow the instructions to fix the issue and resubmit your return using Direct File by the April filing deadline. If you need help, you can text chat with a customer service representative.

You can’t use the Direct File pilot to request an extension of time to file or file online to amend your return. Go to IRS.gov for information on how to request an extension to file or amend a return.

Watch IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel’s video about IRS Direct File.

March 28, 2024: IRS Direct File is open 24/7 for eligible taxpayers in the Direct File pilot states to file their 2023 federal tax return online for free.

IRS Direct File customer service representatives will be available Saturday, March 30 and Sunday, March 31, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. Regular hours are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET. Live chat with the IRS to get Direct File tax law help and technical support — in English and Spanish. Representatives do not have access to taxpayer account data.

Don't delay – start your return now with IRS Direct File. If you live in Arizona, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington or Wyoming, use the eligibility checker to see if Direct File is the right option for you to file online for free.

Once you verify your identity and securely sign in to file your return, you can pause your progress and log back in to complete your return any time before the April filing deadline. If you live in Arizona, California, Massachusetts or New York, the Direct File pilot guides you to a state-supported tool to prepare and file your state tax return. Check your account dashboard in Direct File to go to the state site to complete your state return.

Access Direct File through IRS2Go, the official mobile app of the IRS, to check your eligibility for IRS Direct File from your phone in the Free Tax Help section of the app.

Help spread the word about IRS Direct File by sharing our information in English and Spanish.

March 22, 2024: The IRS Direct File pilot remains open and available for eligible taxpayers to file 2023 tax returns online for free. IRS Direct File customer service representatives will be available Saturday, March 23 and Sunday, March 24, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. You can live chat to get basic tax law clarification and technical support — in English and Spanish.

IRS Direct File is open 24/7 through April 15, 2024. Join the more than 50,000 people who have used Direct File so far this filing season.

Access Direct File from your mobile device through IRS2Go. IRS2Go, the official mobile app of the IRS, can help you check your eligibility for IRS Direct File from your mobile device. Look for IRS Direct File in the Free Tax Help section of the app.

Sign-in to Direct File securely. You'll need to verify your identity and securely sign in to file your return with the Direct File pilot. The IRS lets you access most tax tools with one account using the same login and password. Learn more about the sign-up process for an IRS ID.me account at the ID.me Help Center. See Understanding Your CP303 Notice to learn more if you receive a letter from the IRS about accessing an IRS online service.

Get started now. Use the eligibility checker to see if IRS Direct File is the right option for you to file online for free. Once you start your return, you can pause and sign back into IRS Direct File securely to complete it any time before the April filing deadline. Review these tips PDF to help you prepare to use Direct File.

March 15, 2024: Direct File is open 24/7 for all eligible taxpayers in 12 pilot states to file online – in English and Spanish – directly with the IRS for free.

IRS Direct File customer service representatives will be available Saturday, March 16 and Sunday, March 17, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. You can live chat to get basic tax law clarification and technical support — in English and Spanish.

Get started now — use the eligibility checker to see if IRS Direct File is the right option for you to file online for free. Once you start your return you can pause and sign back into IRS Direct File securely to complete it any time before the April filing deadline.

Check out our tips for success to help you file or watch the Direct File video for a preview of what to expect when you use Direct File.

Help spread the word about IRS Direct File by sharing our outreach resources in English and Spanish.

March 8, 2024: Direct File is now open 24/7, every day to eligible taxpayers in 12 participating pilot states.

IRS Direct File customer service representatives will be available Saturday, March 9 and Sunday, March 10, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. You can live chat to get basic tax law clarification and technical support — in English and Spanish.

Direct File customer service representatives will not have access to personal IRS account data. Questions that fall outside of the scope for Direct File pilot will be handled by other IRS support services.

Get started now — use the eligibility checker to see if you're able to join the Direct File pilot to file your 2023 tax return online for free.

To find out more about Direct File, check out:

• File for free with IRS Direct File pilot
• Eligible taxpayers in 12 states can file for free with IRS Direct File
• Get the latest outreach materials on the Direct File pilot

Watch these Direct File pilot videos on YouTube

• IRS Direct File Pilot Overview
• IRS Direct File Pilot Overview (Programa piloto del IRS Direct File (in Spanish))

March 1, 2024: After successful external testing and evaluation, during which eligible taxpayers from all 12 pilot states filed their tax returns with Direct File, the pilot is moving into final testing.

Beginning March 4, Direct File will be available for new users to start filing their returns 24 hours a day, every day. A message at the top of the Direct File webpage will indicate that the pilot is open.

The pilot remains limited during final testing, and Direct File may briefly close to new taxpayers if a day's allotment of available spaces is exceeded. But more spaces will be added every day, and our goal is to ensure that all eligible taxpayers can see if Direct File is the right option for them to file.

Taxpayers who have started a return can sign in at the Direct File website even if the service is temporarily closed to new users.

At the completion of final testing, Direct File is planned to fully open to all eligible taxpayers in the 12 pilot states on March 12.

To find out more about Direct File, check out:

• Direct File Pilot Overview IRS YouTube video
• IRS Publication 5916, File for free with Direct File pilot PDF
• IRS Publication 5917, Direct File pilot - What you need to know PDF

February 28, 2024:

• 9 a.m. ET

  Direct File will reopen to new users today, starting at 9 a.m. ET. When this availability window opens, new users in the 12 pilot states can start their returns at Direct File.

February 27, 2024:

• 9 p.m. ET

  As of 9 p.m. ET, the availability window is now closed to new users. The best way to find out when it’s open again is to check the status periodically on Direct File.

  If you have already started your return, you can sign in at Direct File to continue filing during this temporary pause for new users.

• 5 p.m. ET

  Direct File will reopen to new users today, starting at 5 p.m. ET. When this availability window opens, new users in the 12 pilot states can start their returns at Direct File.

February 22, 2024: After a successful round of internal testing, the Direct File pilot is moving into the next phase of public testing.

This week, Direct File opened to the public in pilot states for a brief window of time. Direct File is now temporarily closed to new users while we continue evaluating the service. If you have already started your return, you can sign in at Direct File to continue filing during this temporary pause in the availability window.

During the next few weeks, Direct File will continue to open for new taxpayers in pilot states for short availability windows, for continued testing on a wider scale. When we’ve determined that Direct File is operating as expected, we will reopen for new users. We can’t give a specific date or time for these availability windows, as they might change with short notice. The best way to find out when it’s open again is to check the status periodically on Direct File.

While you wait, check your eligibility and learn more about the sign-up process for an IRS ID.me account.

February 16, 2024: Direct File continues to receive a steady stream of returns from the 1,200 taxpayers participating in the initial testing phase.

This week, we started state integration testing for the service with Arizona, New York, and Massachusetts. This expanded testing to several hundred filers in the pilot states with income tax. And taxpayers who used Direct File have begun receiving their refunds.

Early users report satisfaction with Direct File and the customer service representatives they have interacted with via live chat. First filers have indicated that Direct File is straightforward and easy to use, and many have successfully filed their taxes in less than 30 minutes.

“Internal testing continues, with additional testing underway to ensure Direct File is successfully integrated with state systems,” said Bridget Roberts, Chief Direct File.

Direct File is still in a limited release while we continue to test the service with early users. We will continue to provide updates as the phase progresses.

We also delivered our first issue of the Direct File pilot e-newsletter this week to more than 13,000 subscribers where we covered pilot eligibility and availability.

February 8, 2024: First filers have successfully and securely filed their returns for free through IRS Direct File.

As the first step in Direct File’s extensive testing phase, a small group of government employees volunteered to file using Direct File. This phase is a key step in launching a new technology product. These first filers include more than a dozen taxpayers from the pilot states without an income tax to test Direct File and ensure a successful filing experience.

The next step is for a small, initial group of volunteer taxpayers in participating states with an income tax to ensure successful integration with filing a state tax return.

The IRS continues internal testing with nearly 1,200 taxpayers in non-income tax states now able to file their returns through Direct File. We will continue to provide updates as the internal testing phase progresses.

January 29, 2024: Check to see if you're eligible for Direct File.

Direct File is not currently available to the public as we focus on extensive internal testing.

The pilot is expected to be more widely available to the public in mid-March.

As we continue to roll out Direct File, you can check to see if you're eligible and learn more about the pilot at Direct File.

January 19, 2024: Watch our announcement videos in English and Spanish.

January 8, 2024: Direct File will be rolled out in phases and is expected to be more widely available in mid-March.

December 20, 2023: Get a closer look at the IRS Direct File pilot from the team.