Does the IRS direct file go away? What does Trump’s budget mean for free service mean?

The IRS direct file was at the second Trump administration intersection The past few monthsBut the latest details of the Republican Party budget proposal made its potential disappearance more realistic.

The direct file is an online program provided by the Tax Authority This allows you to submit your income taxes directly to the agency for free, instead of paying for an accountant or a paid tax service like H&R Block or Online tax program. Exit from the law to reduce inflation and signing it by former President Joe Biden in 2022, the program was launched in 12 states during the 2024 tax season. The Tax Authority later said that it was used by 140,000 people during this experimental running.

It has expanded to 25 states for the 2025 tax season, but despite its “enhanced” offers, the direct file was already under a cloud of uncertainty as it became a target for the administration of President Donald Trump and its wide plans to reduce government spending.

In February, Elon Musk-CEO of Tesla and the leader of the government’s ministry responsible for many current discounts during the Trump era to the federal government-in a post on X that the “direct file office” had been “deleted”, although the program remained in operation.

Now, and Federal budget proposalWith the support of Trump and was designed by Republicans in Congress, I have put the end of the possible direct file In explicit terms. If it is transferred to the law and signed by the president, the budget calls on the Treasury to end the program within 30 days after the signing of the bill, if not sooner.

After that, the administration will be directed to create a “better partnership between the public and private sectors between the Tax Authority and the private sector tax preparation services”, although no details are shared about the form of this and a timetable has not been shared.

Although most of the taxpayers they already have They submitted tax declarations for 2024If you offer an extension or live in an extended deadline area, you have other options. If the direct file is turned off, check if you can submit the file for free Free Tax Authority fileand Cash application taxes Or a A free layer of online tax programs.

The Treasury did not respond to the CNET request for comment.