- cross-posted to:
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- cross-posted to:
- [email protected]
After weeks of testing, an electronic system for filing returns directly to the IRS is now available to taxpayers from 12 selected states.
The new system, called Direct File, is a free online tool. Taxpayers in the selected states who have very simple W-2s and claim a standard deduction may be eligible to use it this tax season to file their federal income taxes. The program will also offer a Spanish version, which will be available starting at 1 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday.
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Certain taxpayers in Florida, New Hampshire, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wyoming, Arizona, Massachusetts, California and New York can participate. Direct File can only be used to file federal income taxes, taxpayers from states that require filing state taxes will need to do so separately.
[Note]
Additionally, for all taxpayers, if you make $79,000 or less, the IRS has a list of free tax software you can use. Full list here: https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/browse-all-offers/
So basically, claiming any of the most common credits. I count five that I’ve claimed in the past few years (though not all five in one year).
But given that this is just the first run, I think they’ll expand it for next year. Better to have even some people using it now, than to not let anyone use it until it handles all cases.