I just saw this news pop up. I first filed my taxes in 1996 and did it by hand. I had no clue wtf I was doing and my taxable income was very low. I remember being scared of making a mistake and getting hauled to jail for "tax evasion"!

Since then, I have filed taxes by myself every year as my income went up. I have never gone to any tax filing company like HR Block or Jackson Hewitt, and I have always used free resources online. Earlier it was taxact.com and once they started charging for investments, I use freetaxusa.com and it has what I need for free. 100% free.

So my question is this. The Government taxes us. I am not looking to pay taxes, the Government wants something from me. So isn't the Government also responsible for providing me a free means to file my taxes? Or is it okay to allow this to mushroom into another tax industry like HR Block and others who exist solely because of this reason?

My current view is that since the Government wants me to pay, they need to create a full featured official website for me to file my taxes and not need to go through HR Block and TurboTax and pay someone to file something that the Government wants me to do. If someone is lazy and wants to pawn it off, then go ahead and pay and get it done. Until recently, government provided website wouldn't do certain things like capital gains.

Being in IT myself, I don't buy it that having such a system is "too expensive". We waste so much money on so many things, why not spend some on this and give the contract to an American company, create jobs for Americans, and not ship it abroad to substandard companies like Infosys/Tata to send us their buggy low-quality products? This is how costs go overboard, because middlemen are making money.


IRS eliminates Direct File. How can I file my taxes for free now?
https://finance.yahoo.com/personal-finance/taxes/article/irs-eliminates-direct-file-how-can-i-file-my-taxes-for-free-now-230748237.html

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Direct File the short-lived, free IRS tax-filing tool is officially over, shut down less than two years after launch amid shifting priorities in Washington.
During its brief run, Direct File gave taxpayers a streamlined, no-upsell way to file their federal taxes for free. Close to 300,000 taxpayers across 25 states used it in tax year 2024 (calendar year 2025).

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The site going dark marks a swift reversal for a program the IRS once framed as a major win for consumers.
Here's exactly what Direct File offered, why it ended, and where you can file for free now.

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What was Direct File?
Created during the Biden administration, Direct File was the IRS's attempt to provide a no-cost filing platform without relying on commercial tax software. Eligible taxpayers could log into an IRS-operated online portal, answer guided questions, enter their W-2 information, and submit their federal return directly to the IRS.
Direct File operated alongside IRS Free File, the private-public partnership program that provides free access to tax-prep software for people with adjusted gross incomes of $84,000 or less.

So for two tax years, taxpayers in some states had two viable ways to file federal taxes online at no cost.

Why was Direct File eliminated?

The IRS pulled the plug on Direct File in early November after a recent Treasury report to Congress advised that the agency stop developing the tool, specifically citing high costs and low participation.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who also serves as acting IRS commissioner, confirmed the decision outside the White House on Nov. 5, according to multiple outlets.
But a lot has changed in a year and a half. Back in May 2024, the IRS released a report touting Direct File's launch year as a success, highlighting strong satisfaction scores and public appetite for expansion.

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I never used that tool... So...
But I presume it only handled the most simple returns? Was this something similar to a 1040EZ or just a basic 1040?

I suppose you can always just download the forms from the IRS and fill them out. Those are all still available. The online tools are just a means to filling out the actual forms.

I could do the same. But my taxes aren't as simple, and though I still do them myself, it takes hours and the use of a paid software package is my preferred choice as it walks me through and handles all of the correct forms in the background.

You can still file directly yourself you know that right? The IRS has mountains of information behind every single one of their forms.

Here is the walkthrough to fill out a 1040. Go line by line. Fill it out. If you need any other additional documents to attach like a Schedule C it'll pop in the steps up like a choose your own adventure. Then drop it in the mail. Congrats on your zero dollar, direct file.

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040gi.pdf

Oh you don't want to walk through 200+ pages? Well cough up the $0 to go freetaxusa.com and use their software.

ErnestEndeavor said:

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It was canceled supposedly due to cost, promoted as saving taxpayers money by not having government workers run the program. A lot of people celebrated the cancellation as a win for small government.

The reality is the tax prep industry lobbied hard to have it canceled and the donor class got their way.

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You are probably right. Hadn't thought of that.

one MEEN Ag said:

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You can still file directly yourself you know that right? The IRS has mountains of information behind every single one of their forms.

Here is the walkthrough to fill out a 1040. Go line by line. Fill it out. If you need any other additional documents to attach like a Schedule C it'll pop in the steps up like a choose your own adventure. Then drop it in the mail. Congrats on your zero dollar, direct file.

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040gi.pdf

Oh you don't want to walk through 200+ pages? Well cough up the $0 to go freetaxusa.com and use their software.

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We aren't a 3rd world country. Don't take me back to 1997.
Even real 3rd world countries have online ways of filing taxes.

infinity ag said:

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ErnestEndeavor said:

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It was canceled supposedly due to cost, promoted as saving taxpayers money by not having government workers run the program. A lot of people celebrated the cancellation as a win for small government.

The reality is the tax prep industry lobbied hard to have it canceled and the donor class got their way.

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You are probably right. Hadn't thought of that.

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Likely bolstered by the number of people that need NOTHING more than their W2 and their kids names...
But HR Block has convinced them it's either too hard (they're not smart enough) to do thier own taxes. Also HR Block will advance them their refund less an absolute raping in fees for a 1040EZ.

But they get to overpay the government all year long because they can't fill out a W4 correctly and they get the feelz with a couple grand back in their pocket to go buy a new TV or living room set at Rent-A-Center!

As already noted. You can either download a return off their website and fill it out or if you don't have a computer you can walk into your nearest post office and get a copy.

I guess you do have to pay for postage to send it in. I would send it certified if you go this route, so count on about $9 total.

Or you can pay anywhere from $0 with a discount code and simple return and nearly every dollar amount up to tens of thousands of dollars to have a third party online to tax attorney do it all for you.

The Feds don't need to be in every business under the sun even as the agency forcing us by law to pay them money. They already provide tax forms that payers can fill out and send in.

I would say maintaining software to file tax returns with our incredibly complex and ever changing tax code must be very expensive, especially with only 300k users nationwide. That's low hanging fruit to save money.

Repeal the sixteenth amendment. That'll fix it.

Will continue to have our CPA do it for us until AI takes it over in probably less than 2 years.

One less thing. [/Forrest Gump]

OP sent all the H1-B website coders back to Delhi and is now complaining the IRS cannot maintain its tax website.

Some people never satisfied….

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Being in IT myself, I don't buy it that having such a system is "too expensive". We waste so much money on so many things, why not spend some on this and give the contract to an American company, create jobs for Americans, and not ship it abroad to substandard companies like Infosys/Tata to send us their buggy low-quality products? This is how costs go overboard, because middlemen are making money.

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Thing is, we don't need the government to create and maintain their own software.

They could just provide a small rebate for all tax payers, to use existing tax preparation services (ie. Turbotax, etc).

Much less cost, and much better software/UI.

AgGrad99 said:

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Being in IT myself, I don't buy it that having such a system is "too expensive". We waste so much money on so many things, why not spend some on this and give the contract to an American company, create jobs for Americans, and not ship it abroad to substandard companies like Infosys/Tata to send us their buggy low-quality products? This is how costs go overboard, because middlemen are making money.

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Thing is, we don't need the government to create and maintain their own software.

They could just provide a small rebate for all tax payers, to use existing tax preparation services (ie. Turbotax, etc).

Much less cost, and much better software/UI.

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Okay.
So you still think people should pay a business to pay their taxes? This "small rebate" is no different from what we have today.
I used TurboTax for my kids as it was free for them, and I agree, the UI is very good. Better than freetaxusa.

So you are for status quo?

Mail them paper always

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Being in IT myself, I don't buy it that having such a system is "too expensive". We waste so much money on so many things, why not spend some on this and give the contract to an American company, create jobs for Americans, and not ship it abroad to substandard companies like Infosys/Tata to send us their buggy low-quality products? This is how costs go overboard, because middlemen are making money.

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As tax code changes, you have to keep updating the software. Get's pretty expensive to maintain software to account for the ever changing tax code.

infinity ag said:

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AgGrad99 said:

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Quote:

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Being in IT myself, I don't buy it that having such a system is "too expensive". We waste so much money on so many things, why not spend some on this and give the contract to an American company, create jobs for Americans, and not ship it abroad to substandard companies like Infosys/Tata to send us their buggy low-quality products? This is how costs go overboard, because middlemen are making money.

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Thing is, we don't need the government to create and maintain their own software.

They could just provide a small rebate for all tax payers, to use existing tax preparation services (ie. Turbotax, etc).

Much less cost, and much better software/UI.

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Okay.
So you still think people should pay a business to pay their taxes? This "small rebate" is no different from what we have today.
I used TurboTax for my kids as it was free for them, and I agree, the UI is very good. Better than freetaxusa.

So you are for status quo?

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That's the point of the rebate. It would pay for using the software.

So it wouldnt cost you anything.

My point is that the government does not need to reinvent the wheel, when services already exist.

I did my taxes through turbotax on my phone in 45 min. Itemized and all.

ErnestEndeavor said:

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It was canceled supposedly due to cost, promoted as saving taxpayers money by not having government workers run the program. A lot of people celebrated the cancellation as a win for small government.

The reality is the tax prep industry lobbied hard to have it canceled and the donor class got their way.

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To the Lobbyists and donors continuing to let us know they own the politicians and our government as much as they possibly can. Capitalism 101.

TommyBrady said:

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I did my taxes through turbotax on my phone in 45 min. Itemized and all.

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Did you pay?

CPA here. I've used all the major tax prep programs out there for the average joe

freetaxusa is the best and is free (i've tested many of them with my own personal scenarios) for those that want to do it themselves or do not want to pay a CPA.

If you want to pay for turbo tax or HR Block go for it but its not a better product.

No, the government shouldn't create or maintain it. the government sucks at that. there are numerous free solutions and plenty of cheap solutions. the private sector offers many free options with the ability to pay as much as you want if you want more support.
https://www.irs.gov/e-file-do-your-taxes-for-free

Part of the TCJA was to raise the standard deduction thereby making tax filing even more easier for many filers.

Taxes are not hard for 99% of people. Just use TurboTax or H&R Block and there's a good chance you won't have to pay anything to file.

Even if you do have to pay it is extremely to find a deal that will only cost you around $30 to file a federal only return. Suck it up

infinity ag said:

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TommyBrady said:

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I did my taxes through turbotax on my phone in 45 min. Itemized and all.

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Did you pay?

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Yes, $39 due to itemizing if you only do standard deduction it was free. I uploaded like 10 documents from my phone and only took me that long cuz of some deductions that aren't as straight forward. If I would have done standard deduction I think it would have taken 10 min and thats using their app on my phone. It might be quicker on a computer idk.

Turbotax also pulls from my mortgage and investments so it's almost done it all just by pulling all the forms itself.

The $39 was less than 1% of the increase I got from itemizing so I'd say thats good.

infinity ag said:

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So my question is this. The Government taxes us. I am not looking to pay taxes, the Government wants something from me. So isn't the Government also responsible for providing me a free means to file my taxes? Or is it okay to allow this to mushroom into another tax industry like HR Block and others who exist solely because of this reason?

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No, they aren't, but they do anyway. You can use fill in forms on the IRS website. They don't calculate, but the forms are there, fill them in, print them, mail them to the IRS.

Bet you really dislike the CEO of H&R Block.

I always buy the H&R Block program on special (seems like it's often at Newegg). For about $40 I get the fed and state program, e-filing for each and option to file up to 5 returns (doing one extra one for my teenage daughter this year who worked a part time job). Information is also synched up from previous years and my trading information transfers directly over from Fidelity (my brokerage).

I find this to be a tremendous value.

The hundred bucks or so I spend on TurboTax every year is an easy spend.

My tax situation is pretty constant year-to-year, so I can usually estimate my taxes fairly well. However, this year I finally got to learn about the Net Investment Income Tax. Thanks Obama.

infinity ag said:

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Close to 300,000 taxpayers across 25 states used it in tax year 2024 (calendar year 2025).

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With no more users than that, it should be discontinued.

Turbotax is free for simple returns, FYI

ErnestEndeavor said:

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It was canceled supposedly due to cost, promoted as saving taxpayers money by not having government workers run the program. A lot of people celebrated the cancellation as a win for small government.

The reality is the tax prep industry lobbied hard to have it canceled and the donor class got their way.

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That may be true, I don't know. But my goal and the goal of every CPA I knew, was not to be acquiring clients that used Freefile or whatever low end tax prep software that was out there. Those kind of folks we typically told to go to the tax preparation booth at Walmart or to go to H&R Block.

policywonk98 said:

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As already noted. You can either download a return off their website and fill it out or if you don't have a computer you can walk into your nearest post office and get a copy.

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Doubt there will be any tax forms in the post office. They used to have them, but think that stopped about two decades ago. I frequent five post offices in my area and none have tax forms.

I've used this for years.

https://sites.google.com/view/incometaxspreadsheet/home

Excel workbook that has all the IRS pages ready and tied back to the 1040. Faster than messing around with a website. You can see quickly how changes impact bottom line tax.

I usually print and mail it certified to them.

kb2001 said:

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Turbotax is free for simple returns, FYI

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No offense, but Free version of TT is for lolpoors. I did my kids' returns on TT last year for free, the first time they had income. Most people on TA are non-lolpoor olds so free TT won't work.

Motot said:

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I've used this for years.

https://sites.google.com/view/incometaxspreadsheet/home

Excel workbook that has all the IRS pages ready and tied back to the 1040. Faster than messing around with a website. You can see quickly how changes impact bottom line tax.

I usually print and mail it certified to them.

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I've been using this for about 7-10 years as well, good for estimation of taxes but I have never used it to print in and send. I believe the last time I printed a return was my 1999 return.

infinity ag said:

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AgGrad99 said:

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Quote:

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Being in IT myself, I don't buy it that having such a system is "too expensive". We waste so much money on so many things, why not spend some on this and give the contract to an American company, create jobs for Americans, and not ship it abroad to substandard companies like Infosys/Tata to send us their buggy low-quality products? This is how costs go overboard, because middlemen are making money.

---

Thing is, we don't need the government to create and maintain their own software.

They could just provide a small rebate for all tax payers, to use existing tax preparation services (ie. Turbotax, etc).

Much less cost, and much better software/UI.

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Okay.
So you still think people should pay a business to pay their taxes? This "small rebate" is no different from what we have today.
I used TurboTax for my kids as it was free for them, and I agree, the UI is very good. Better than freetaxusa.

So you are for status quo?

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No one is forcing you to use a software to do your taxes. You can still file your taxes using paper forms.