'I don't care about Direct File': IRS chief says agency plans to end free filing program
President Donald Trump's massive spending and policy bill includes funding to research and "replace any direct e-file programs run by the Internal Revenue Service." Already, the program is "gone," Long said at a tax professional summit on July 28, Bloomberg Law reports.
"You've heard of Direct File, that's gone," Long said. "Big beautiful Billy wiped that out. I don't care about Direct File. I care about direct audit."
The agency has not confirmed the future of the program.
"Commissioner Billy Long is committed to modernizing the IRS and providing a taxpayer experience that meets today's expectations, which includes giving taxpayers transparency into the status of their tax returns and audits," an IRS spokesperson told CNBC Make It in an emailed statement.
"We look forward to Treasury's forthcoming report to Congress on the Direct File program and on potential public-private partnership alternatives to Direct File, as required by the One Big Beautiful Bill."
The Direct File program allowed taxpayers in certain states with simple tax situations to file their taxes for free directly through the IRS. The agency piloted the program in 12 states in 2024 and expanded to an additional 13 states in 2025. An estimated 30 million Americans were eligible to use the filing option in 2025, according to the Treasury Department.
Some Republicans have called the program wasteful and an overreach of the federal government. The Trump administration was already planning to end the Direct File program prior to the policy megabill, the Associated Press reported in April.
Nearly 300,000 filers used Direct File for the 2025 tax season, and 94% of users who completed an IRS survey rated their experience as "excellent" or "above average," according to an internal IRS report obtained by Nextgov/FCW.
Taxpayers who received an extension and as a result haven't yet filed their 2024 taxes are still be able to access Direct File to get their returns in by the Oct. 15 deadline, the IRS confirmed.
Even if Direct File is eliminated by next year's tax season, taxpayers may have options to file their taxes for free.
The IRS has another free filing program where the agency partners with third-party tax preparation software companies to provide services to taxpayers, although there are varying eligibility requirements, including adjusted gross income and state of residence. You can use the IRS' questionnaire tool to find an applicable partner.
Additionally, the IRS sponsors the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, which helps taxpayers earning less than $67,000 a year for 2025, who have a disability or who speak limited English get in-person tax preparation assistance for free.
You can also DIY your taxes by accessing the IRS' free fillable forms and submitting them directly to the agency.
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