Washingtonians: File taxes for free with IRS Direct File

Made possible by Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, this new service is already saving taxpayers hundreds of dollars

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 13, 2024) — The U.S. Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service this week announced the new IRS Direct File program, including a new Spanish version of the free tax filing service — which allows eligible taxpayers in Washington and 11 other states to prepare and file their tax return online, for free, directly with the IRS, rather than paying costly fees through a middleman website.

Direct File was made possible by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, landmark legislation that Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, was instrumental in passing. It invested new resources in the IRS to allow the agency to improve service to taxpayers, including by developing new tools like Direct File that make it easier for Americans to file their taxes.

The Treasury Departments estimates that 1.1 million Washington state taxpayers will be eligible. This investment will also reduce the deficit by ensuring wealthy individuals, large corporations, and complex partnerships pay taxes owed.

“Americans should not have to shell out hundreds of dollars just to file their taxes,” Murray said in a statement released Tuesday. “Taxpayers should be able to file their taxes directly with the IRS through a secure, free platform, and today, it’s finally becoming a reality. Democrats made a worthwhile investment in the IRS to help ensure giant corporations and the very wealthiest would pay at least the taxes they already owe—part of that investment also means a more efficient IRS that can provide better services and create tools like Direct File that will save people money. I encourage all Washington state taxpayers to check if they are eligible and file their taxes with Direct File before April 15.”

Direct File is easy to use, with no hidden junk fees, and works as well on a smartphone as it does on a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer. Direct File shows taxpayers the math so they can be sure that their return is accurate, and they are getting the refund they are entitled to. Live customer service support is also available for Direct File users. Initial users have saved hundreds of dollars and reported that the tool is simple and straightforward to use.

“The early results of the program’s test phase make clear that this is a major step forward in easing the burden of filing tax returns for families,” said Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA, 1st). “I encourage Washington taxpayers to see if they qualify for this new, innovative tool offered by the federal government.”

Check your eligibility to use Direct File at directfile.irs.gov.