“Direct File provides a free, secure option for taxpayers with simple tax situations in 12 states to file their taxes directly with the IRS,” the Treasury Department said. “Direct File is easy to use, with no hidden junk fees, and works as well on a smartphone as it does on a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer. Direct File shows taxpayers the math so they can be sure that their return is accurate, and they are getting the refund they are entitled to.”
You can check whether you qualify to use the system at directfile.irs.gov. Based on the eligibility restrictions in the IRS program, the Treasury Department said it “estimates that one-third of all federal income tax returns filed could be prepared using Direct File.”
But there are many limits that would prevent taxpayers from using the system.
Back in the mid 90s, when I was a very low income earner and filing the 1040EZ, I could call an IRS phone automation and input my SSN and the relevant numbers and be done in minutes. Did that go away with the internet? Seems like they were on the ball technically then.
It went away because Intuit and other tax preparation companies
bribedlobbied the government to keep tax filing difficultInputting your ssn on the phone is pretty wild.
There’s dozens of free file options for low-income earners. Head to the IRS website and find them for yourself.
For over a decade, the IRS knowingly listed fake free options on their site because Intuit paid them to. Victims were sent to Intuit-owned sites that promised free filing, but would then be tricked into corners requiring them to pay to actually file (usually after spending a great deal of time and energy to get to that point). Even after public backlash, the IRS continued to list the sites as free because of lobbying cash from Intuit. The IRS was complicit. They were lying for profit. Fuck Intuit and fuck the IRS.
The IRS list should never, ever be trusted. They burned that bridge all the way into the river in my opinion.
The only actual free tax filing option out there is FreeTaxUSA.com . I know the name sounds dumb but this has been around for years and does what it says it does. Some types of filings may incur a charge, but the charges are very low and there is never any trickery. Also, it’s easier to use than TurboTax.
FreeTaxUSA is free for federal. They charge (a reasonable amount) to file state taxes.
I never heard about any literal bribes the IRS accepted for the above, more that it was bog standard defunding and congressional lobbying.
Can you link a reputable article about this?
I am using the word “bribes” to describe lobbying within the bounds of the law. No one broke the law here because we’ve effectively legalized bribery.