In the Media
THE NEW YORK TIMES: I.R.S. Expands Its Free Tax Filing Option
01. 24. 2025
The Direct File system will be open to millions of taxpayers in 25 states, up from 12 last year.
This story originally appeared in The New York Times
This year, according to the I.R.S. online eligibility tool, single filers with wages of $200,000 or less in 2024 can use Direct File. For those with more than one employer, the cutoff drops to $168,600. Married couples filing jointly are eligible as long as their combined wages don’t exceed $250,000. People who itemize deductions aren’t eligible to use Direct File.
Adam Ruben, vice president of campaigns and political strategy at the Economic Security Project, an advocacy group that champions efforts to help low- and moderate-income families, including free tax filing, said he was “optimistic” the program would endure because it’s easy and free. “I think it will sell itself,” he said. “No one loves to do their taxes, but you shouldn’t have to pay to get it done.”
On average, Americans spend about 13 hours and $270 to prepare their taxes every year, according to the I.R.S.