The Trump administration plans to eliminate the IRS’ Direct File program, an electronic system for filing tax returns directly to the agency for free, according to two people familiar with the decision.

The program developed during Joe Biden’s presidency was credited by users with making tax filing easy, fast and economical.

But Republican lawmakers and commercial tax preparation companies complained it was a waste of taxpayer money because free filing programs already exist, although they are hard to use.

  • benignintervention@lemmy.world
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    26 days ago

    What’s great about this is nothing. I tried to use it last week and the site was down already. It said “for maintenance” but for 3 straight days at the peak of tax season?

    • Bwaz@lemmy.world
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      25 days ago

      Worked great for me, but I did it in March. Saved me hundreds and it was less work for me than gathering records and getting them to HRBlock was in 2024. But yeah, discontinue an already developed program while spending a ghastly amount of money on a military parade honoring a felon traitor.

  • Wren@lemmy.worldM
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    25 days ago

    So basically, he wants to ensure there’s no other way we can file our taxes without him being paid for it…

    If it looks like a grift, acts like a grift, and smells like a grift,

    It’s probably Trump, in a diaper, grifting.

  • guldukat@lemmy.world
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    25 days ago

    I’ve used a few “free” filing programs. You finally get to the end and ready to submit then bam, for some reason you have to pay

    • IamtheMorgz@lemmy.world
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      25 days ago

      I’ve used free tax USA for years. I don’t pay for filing my fed, just my state. But my taxes tend to be pretty simple, so I guess ymmv

      • Lka1988@sh.itjust.works
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        25 days ago

        Another for freetaxusa, I’ve only ever paid for state filing, and it’s like $15. Worth it. They offer various “services” that naturally cost extra, but they’re all optional. Never had an issue.