The Internal Revenue Service is expanding its Direct File program to all 50 states following a successful pilot in 12 states, including Florida.
Commissioner Danny Werfel spoke with News 6 about the program’s performance and what it means for taxpayers looking for a simple, free way to file their taxes online.
“We got significant, positive feedback from the taxpayers that used it,” Werfel said. “Tens of thousands of Floridians used it in the first year, and as a result of the positive feedback we got here in Florida and around the country, we’ve decided to expand it.”
A key portion of the feedback came from a survey of more than 15,000 Direct File users following the 2024 tax filing season. Werfel notes that 90% of the respondents ranked their experience as “Excellent or Above Average.”
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Werfel points to the survey results as a critical factor in deciding the future of Direct File. “We tried it, and it worked,” Werfel stated. “So we’re moving forward on a permanent basis.”
In May 2024, the IRS officially made the program a permanent option and invited all 50 states to participate. Florida and 23 other states opted in for the 2025 filing season.
Now, Direct File, which allows taxpayers to calculate and submit their returns to the government directly without using commercial tax preparation software, will be open to more than 2 million taxpayers in Florida, and more than 30 million taxpayers nationwide.
“We encourage Florida residents to learn more about what it means to file directly with the IRS for free. It may be the right program for you,” Werfel suggested.
Werfel acknowledged that many taxpayers are satisfied with existing software options; however, he emphasized the importance of giving Americans an alternative.
“We heard from Americans that were interested in another option. They look at the menu and say, ‘We want another option on the menu. We want one that’s direct with the IRS, also online, also easy to use. We want one that’s free,’” Werfel said.
According to the IRS, Direct File is only an option if you lived and worked in a participating state for all of 2024. The participating states are:
- 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
The IRS stresses that you cannot use Direct File if you did not live in one of these states for all of 2024. Additionally, there are other important eligibility restrictions:
- You can’t use Direct File if you had certain types of income, such as gig economy, rental or business income.
- You can’t use Direct File if you itemize deductions.
- Direct File doesn’t prepare state returns.
While the Direct File service is primarily for taxpayers with simple tax situations, Werfel believes that the pilot program’s success underscores the agency’s commitment to making tax filing easier and more accessible.
“Direct File is an important part of our effort to meet taxpayers where they are, give them choices as to what best meets their needs when interacting with the IRS, or otherwise meet their tax obligations as easily and quickly as possible.” Werfel said
For more information, visit the IRS website at IRS.gov/directfile.