The Internal Revenue Service launched a pilot program last year that allows people to file their taxes directly with the federal government for free. This project is known as Direct File and has since expanded to 25 states.

The Internal Revenue Service is accepting tax returns for tax season 2025, including through the expanded Direct File program. Why it matters: There's been some confusion on the status of the free online tax-filing program after Elon Musk posted on X Monday that he had "deleted" 18F,

The IRS’ free tax-preparation program remains a free option for taxpayers this year, but the fate of a group of government technologists that helped develop it is less certain.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Taxpayers will have until April 15 to file their taxes, according to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Every tax season, calendar-year filers, who represent the majority of filers, typically file on April 15 unless it falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday.

Last year the Internal Revenue Service launched a program that allowed some tax filers to file their returns directly to the IRS. It was available when the 2025 filing started this year, but a social media post from Elon Musk caused some confusion over whether it was still available.

Tax season can be stressful from gathering all the required documents to finding a trusted place to file. Here are some options for filing for free.

This should be a banner year for taxpayers seeking free tax-preparation. But one key IRS program is under fire.

Elon Musk stirred up confusion over the status of the IRS’s Direct File program when he reposted a description of it and said he “deleted” it. “That group has been deleted,” Musk posted on X. However,

Discover how the expanded IRS Direct File program can simplify your tax filing process this 2025 season, offering a free, secure, and efficient way to submit your federal tax returns.