The IRS free tax-filing program Direct File saved users $160 each. Now it may come to an end. (1 Viewer)

[Greenbeard]

Another taste of common sense good government dismantled by the DOGE scammers. All in service of keeping billions flowing to rent seekers instead of saving the taxpayers money.

The IRS free tax-filing program Direct File saved users $160 each. Now it may come to an end.

The Trump administration is planning on ending Direct File, the Associated Press reported earlier this month, citing people familiar with the plan. The program, launched during Joe Biden's presidency, has been credited by some users with making it easier and cheaper to file their taxes, saving the average user $160 in tax preparation fees and hours of their time, according to the Economic Security Project, an advocacy group focused on enhancing financial fairness and security for Americans.

But the IRS has also faced blowback to Direct File from private tax prep companies that have made billions from charging people to use their software. . .

Americans spend more than $100 billion each year to prepare and file their returns, according to the National Taxpayers Union Foundation. Direct File was developed as a method to help taxpayers avoid paying tax-prep and filing fees.

About 96% of taxpayers who used the 2024 pilot program said they were "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with the service, a Code for America survey found.

 

[dmpi]

It's not how much we saved the customer rather it's how much the government spent per customer. I should also point out that I pay $90 for Turbo Tax so I have no clue how the people somehow save $160.

 

[Allan]

It's not how much we saved the customer rather it's how much the government spent per customer. I should also point out that I pay $90 for Turbo Tax so I have no clue how the people somehow save $160.

$90 is the most basic Turbo Tax product. More complicated returns, self employed and investment, or more filings per household costs more.

 

[The AntiDonald]

It's not how much we saved the customer rather it's how much the government spent per customer. I should also point out that I pay $90 for Turbo Tax so I have no clue how the people somehow save $160.

I also paid Turbo Tax $88 this year. That includes both federal and state filings.

 

[dmpi]

$90 is the most basic Turbo Tax product. More complicated returns, self employed and investment, or more filings per household costs more.

$90 gets me the Premier version than can do stocks, bonds and investments. There's a even more basic version that only cost around $60 which just does the basic 1040.