While the IRS hasn’t officially confirmed that the program is dead, the website indicates that the program is closed—and states have been notified that it will not be in place for 2026.
This didn’t happen overnight. For over 20 years, Intuit has fought tooth and nail to stop Americans from having a truly free, government-run tax filing system. Back in the early 2000s, they lobbied Congress and cut a deal with the IRS. They were promising to offer a “Free File” option so the government wouldn’t build its own system. Then they turned around and buried that option so deep most people never found it, even using code to hide it from Google.
When people did try to file for free, they were steered into paid versions with deceptive “free, free, free” ads. They were so deceptive that Intuit had to pay $141 million in settlements. Now, after decades of manipulation, Direct File is being terminated. This is exactly what they’ve wanted all along. It’s the result of relentless lobbying, lies, and corporate greed, all to keep Americans paying for something that should have been free from the start.
Agreed. Probably for most filers, the IRS (and state governments) could just automatically do the work. They already have most of or all of the data. The idea that you have to pay some no-value-add middleman for the “privilege” of filing your taxes is crazy.
For people that have more complicated scenarios, and are trying to take every single deduction, have to hire a CPA and so on…that’s maybe where these middlemen provide something of value.
This didn’t happen overnight. For over 20 years, Intuit has fought tooth and nail to stop Americans from having a truly free, government-run tax filing system. Back in the early 2000s, they lobbied Congress and cut a deal with the IRS. They were promising to offer a “Free File” option so the government wouldn’t build its own system. Then they turned around and buried that option so deep most people never found it, even using code to hide it from Google.
When people did try to file for free, they were steered into paid versions with deceptive “free, free, free” ads. They were so deceptive that Intuit had to pay $141 million in settlements. Now, after decades of manipulation, Direct File is being terminated. This is exactly what they’ve wanted all along. It’s the result of relentless lobbying, lies, and corporate greed, all to keep Americans paying for something that should have been free from the start.
Agreed. Probably for most filers, the IRS (and state governments) could just automatically do the work. They already have most of or all of the data. The idea that you have to pay some no-value-add middleman for the “privilege” of filing your taxes is crazy.
For people that have more complicated scenarios, and are trying to take every single deduction, have to hire a CPA and so on…that’s maybe where these middlemen provide something of value.