The Internal Revenue Service has announced that its free online tax‑filing program known as IRS Direct File “will not be available in Filing Season 2026.” An email from IRS official Cynthia Noe to participating state comptrollers stated plainly that “IRS Direct File will not be available in Filing Season 2026. No launch date has been set for the future.”
The service, developed during the Joe Biden administration and included in the Inflation Reduction Act funding, was designed to enable eligible taxpayers to file electronically at no cost. In the 2025 tax season, approximately 296,531 accepted returns were filed using the program—up from about 140,803 in 2024.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, also serving as IRS Commissioner, told reporters that there are “better alternatives” and that “the private sector can do a better job.”
As of now, the Direct File website states the service is closed and offers no date for its potential return. Tax‑filers who had anticipated using the program next year will instead need to utilize other free filing options or commercial tax‑preparation services.
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