IRS kills Direct File for 2026 tax season after 2 years
Direct File, the free tax filing tool offered by the Internal Revenue Service, will not be an option for taxpayers next year.
IRS Official Cynthia Noe sent an email this week to state auditors who participate in the Direct File program, stating that “IRS Direct File will not be available during the 2026 filing season. No launch date has been set for the future.” » This removes a cost-effective option for low-income tax filers who cannot afford commercial tax preparation software such as TurboTax.
The Trump administration had long threatened to take down Direct File. Earlier this year, former IRS Commissioner Billy Long told a summit of tax professionals: “You’ve heard of Direct File, it’s over. Big, handsome Billy[theTrump budgetbill[wipedthatout][leprojetdeloibudgétairedeTrump[aeffacécela”[theTrumpbudgetbill[wipedthatout”
The tool is currently not available on the IRS website.
Approximately 296,531 taxpayers submitted accepted returns using the IRS Direct File program during the 2025 tax season. This was almost double the number of users the previous year. Still, the program has faced criticism from Republicans, who called it a waste of taxpayer dollars, pointing to existing free programs available to taxpayers. These programs are much more difficult to use.
Private tax companies have aggressively lobbied Congress against Direct File. He has also been targeted by Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency.
The DirectFile website announced the program’s discontinuation Thursday morning, with a message reading “Direct File is closed. More information will be available at a later date.”
The budget bill passed in July included funding for the IRS to study “the cost of replacing any direct electronic filing program administered by the Internal Revenue Service” and “the cost of developing and operating a free direct electronic filing system.” To date, no results from this study have been reported.
