The Trump administration plans to eliminate the IRS’ Direct File program. That's the electronic system for filing tax returns directly to the agency for free.

The Trump administration plans to eliminate the IRS’ Direct File program, an electronic system for filing tax returns directly to the agency for free, according to two people familiar with the decision.

The program developed during Joe Biden’s presidency was credited by users with making tax filing easy, fast and economical.

But Republican lawmakers and commercial tax preparation companies complained it was a waste of taxpayer money because free filing programs already exist, although they are hard to use.

  • benignintervention@lemmy.world
    353·
    3 days ago

    What’s great about this is nothing. I tried to use it last week and the site was down already. It said “for maintenance” but for 3 straight days at the peak of tax season?

    • floo@retrolemmy.comEnglish
      201·
      3 days ago

      Sorry to hear that. From what I’ve heard, your experience is not typical. The experience has been flawless for me for the second year in a row.

      I wonder if there are any more reliable statistics regarding the reliability of the website. From others I’ve spoken to who have used it, they also had a pretty good experience. The only problems in the past is that not every state was supported. Even now, only 27 states can file using the IRS direct file system, while, last year, it was five states.

      And my experience, I lived in one of the originally supported states for both years, so that might explain why my experience was much smoother.

      I think it may have to do with the implementation in your state in particular. Or maybe the site was just overloaded on those days. I don’t know.

      What I do know is that, even in years past, when I have used tax preparation software, it was never so simple or easy as the IRS direct file system. It’s simple, to the point, and I was able to do all of my taxes for the year in about 20 minutes . The only real problem I had was fiddling around with the ID.me verification bullshit. After that, it was very smooth.

      • takeda@lemm.ee
        6·
        3 days ago

        Damn Biden for not being good at advertising his successes. I learned that this exists from the news that is about to be closed down.

        • floo@retrolemmy.comEnglish
          4·
          3 days ago

          At the time, it only just started. Last year, it only worked in five states. While it is because of Biden that it is so good and it works in so many places now, well don’t expect Trump to admit any of that.

          But you bring up a good point: progressive aren’t very good at publishing their successes because, I suppose, progressives don’t like to brag. Fascists, on the other hand, must constantly repeat the lie in order for everyone to believe it.

    • Bwaz@lemmy.world
      3·
      2 days ago

      Worked great for me, but I did it in March. Saved me hundreds and it was less work for me than gathering records and getting them to HRBlock was in 2024. But yeah, discontinue an already developed program while spending a ghastly amount of money on a military parade honoring a felon traitor.