The IRS ended the online, direct-to-government filing program last fall and is doubling down on the free tax filing options ...

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 ...

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. Anchiy / Getty Images The IRS ...

The Watchdog investigates why the IRS ended its Direct File pilot program that let taxpayers send returns straight to the agency without going through Intuit’s electronic filing system. Eric Gay / AP ...

For years, filing a basic tax return in the United States has often meant paying a private company for the privilege of telling the government how much you owe. Now the Internal Revenue Service is ...

IRS Direct File, a free online system for filing federal taxes, has been scrapped for 2026. Almost 300,000 people used IRS Direct File in 2025. So, are they out of luck, along with millions of others ...

With tax season underway, North Carolina filers have lost one tool to complete their returns for free. The IRS Direct File system, a government-run tool that let some Americans file their federal ...

Hey Watchdog! I saw a short item in the news recently that the Internal Revenue Service was stopping something called Direct File. I never heard of it and wonder if it will affect me. Watchdog: Direct ...