WASHINGTON, Jan 6, 2026, 14:18 (EST)
- IRS Direct File, the agency-run free online filing pilot, will not be offered for the 2026 filing season
- IRS Free File is set to reopen in January for taxpayers with adjusted gross income up to $84,000
- Other no-cost options include Fillable Forms, volunteer tax clinics and MilTax for eligible service members and veterans
The IRS’ Direct File program — a free, government-run tool that let eligible taxpayers file federal returns directly with the agency — will not be available in the 2026 filing season, pushing filers toward other free options as preparations for tax season ramp up. 1
The change lands in early January, when households start gathering W-2s and other tax forms and checking whether they can avoid paying for software or a preparer. The IRS has urged taxpayers to “Get Ready” ahead of the 2026 filing season. https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/what-taxpayers-can-do-to-get-ready-for-the-2026-tax-filing-season 2
Direct File was a free, online pilot that nearly 300,000 taxpayers in 25 states used to file returns for tax year 2024, the Journal of Accountancy reported. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the acting IRS commissioner, told reporters, “We have better alternatives,” adding the private sector “can do a better job,” the publication said. 3
On Tuesday, the Direct File web address redirected visitors to a “planned outage” message citing system maintenance, rather than an open filing portal. 4
For taxpayers looking to file for free, the IRS points to its long-running Free File program, a public-private partnership that routes eligible users to guided tax software from participating companies. The IRS Free File page says the service has closed and tells taxpayers to check back in January 2026; it lists eligibility as adjusted gross income — a tax measure of income after certain adjustments — of $84,000 or less. 5
Taxpayers above that income threshold can use Free File Fillable Forms, which are online versions of IRS forms that require filers to do most of the work themselves and do not include state returns, the IRS says. The Fillable Forms page also notes the service requires a 10-digit phone number that can receive SMS text messages and that the platform closes in mid-October outside the main filing window. 6
Other no-cost help remains available through Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) sites, which use IRS-certified volunteers to prepare basic returns for eligible taxpayers. The IRS also highlights MilTax, a Department of Defense program for eligible service members and some veterans that allows free federal filing and up to three state returns, with no income limit. 7
The IRS has not announced the opening day for the 2026 season, but past seasons have started in late January. In a 2025 filing-season release, the agency said Free File began accepting individual returns on Jan. 10, and that Fillable Forms started Jan. 27; then-IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said, “The IRS remains committed to its partnership with Free File Inc. to ensure taxpayers have free and secure options for filing their taxes electronically.” 8
But free filing comes with fine print. IRS Free File offers vary by provider and can depend on income, age and state of residence, and some free products may not include a free state return; the IRS also steers people who need more help to volunteer sites or a tax professional. 9
