The IRS has removed its free Direct File option for taxes. Most taxpayers can use the official Free File program. There are several other ways to file taxes for no charge. Tax filing season officially ...

The IRS shut down its direct filing program for 2026, but Free File, Fillable Forms, MilTax, and some private tools remain—if you know where to look. Here’s how to navigate the free options still ...

The IRS has officially announced the discontinuation of its Free Direct File tool, a decision that will impact taxpayers looking for free filing options in the upcoming tax season. This move comes ...

Elizabeth Guevara is a personal finance reporter who explains the world of business and economics and how it impacts your finances. She joined Investopedia in 2024. Getty Images The IRS Direct File ...

Elizabeth Guevara is a personal finance reporter who explains the world of business and economics and how it impacts your finances. She joined Investopedia in 2024. zeljkosantrac / Getty Images The ...

A new report from the tax agency that was requested by congressional Republicans said that dropping Direct File “is in the best interests of American taxpayers and the IRS.” IRS Customer Experience ...

Thomas is a native of upstate New York and a graduate of the University at Albany. As a former member of CNET's How To team, he wrote about the intersection of policy, information and technology, and ...

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Taxpayers can get a head start on preparing their 2025 federal tax returns as the IRS Free File program is now available ahead of the official start of the tax ...

Tax season is officially underway, and the Internal Revenue Service has begun accepting individual federal tax returns for 2026 through its free guided software program, IRS Free File. The IRS opened ...

Filing your 2025 federal tax return online for free is still very much possible in the 2026 tax season, despite widespread confusion after the IRS shut down its Direct File pilot. The key is knowing ...

Only 2% of federal income tax returns were filed through Free File, despite 70% of filers qualifying. Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising partners who ...