Tax season starts Monday. Here's how to file federal and state taxes for free in Wisconsin
Starting Monday, many Wisconsinites will be able to file their federal income taxes for free using the IRS' Direct File program, which transfers information into Wisconsin's own free software for state taxes.
This is the first tax filing season that the program is available in Wisconsin. Wisconsin is one of 25 states that offer the program, after 12 pilot states tested the program last year. Monday is the start of tax filing season.
Eligible taxpayers in Wisconsin can file their federal income tax returns electronically, including on cellphones and other mobile devices, through the Direct File program.
Direct File "integrates seamlessly" with WisTax, the state Department of Revenue says. Direct File imports information into WisTax, meaning you don't have to manually enter forms like W-2s and 1099s twice when filing state income taxes.
"Not only does this save time; it reduces the likelihood of errors, making it among the fastest refund options available," the department said in a press release.
Here's what to know about Direct File in Wisconsin, who's eligible and how it integrates with Wisconsin's state tax filing software:
The IRS provides a checklist to understand if you're eligible for the program. That includes living in Wisconsin or another eligible state, earning all of your 2024 income in Wisconsin and not using the "married filing separately" filing status.
If you plan to claim credits on Schedule CR, farmland preservation credits or repayment credits, the IRS says Direct File isn't a good option. There are other limits based on household wages — you can't use Direct File if your wages are more than $200,000, for example.
The program is different than the IRS' Free File program, which provides access to free tax preparation software from eight private companies.
More: Wisconsinites will be eligible to use a free, online tax-filing system in 2025
WisTax is the state's free software for filing state income taxes. WisTax uses your My Tax Account profile, and you can log in or create one at tap.revenue.wi.gov/btr/_/#2.
If you use the IRS' Direct File program, information from your federal forms will transfer into WisTax. You also won't need to attach forms like W-2s, 1099s or your federal return to your state taxes.
The Department of Revenue recommends waiting until your federal return is accepted before beginning your Wisconsin return.
If your federal return gets rejected, you may need to update your state return, which can't be done through WisTax. You'd need to use third-party software, a paper form or find a tax professional.
Taxpayers who don't qualify for Direct File might still be eligible to use WisTax. More information about eligibility is available at revenue.wi.gov/Pages/FAQS/ise-WisTax.aspx.
The deadline for both federal and state taxes is Tuesday, April 15, 2025. More information about deadlines, penalties and extensions is available on the Department of Revenue's website.
More: Wisconsin's tax burden compared with other states hits a new low
Filing online provides the fastest refund, the department says. If you requested your return be directly deposited in your bank account, your refund should appear within three weeks.
You can enter your tax return information on the department's website for updates on your refund status.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: You can file your 2025 taxes for free in Wisconsin. Here's how
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