NY Times: IRS To Begin Trial Of Its Own Free Tax-Filing System

New York Times, I.R.S. to Begin Trial of Its Own Free Tax-Filing System:

The Internal Revenue Service is rolling out a free option for filing federal tax returns this year to some residents of a dozen states.

Last month, the agency published details of its plan to test an in-house filing system, in which taxpayers submit their federal tax returns directly to the agency online at no cost. Residents of 12 states are eligible to participate if they meet certain criteria.

“This is a critical step forward for this innovative effort that will test the feasibility of providing taxpayers a new option to file their returns for free directly with the I.R.S.,” Danny Werfel, the agency’s commissioner, said in a recent statement.

While the direct filing system is starting on a limited basis, it has already faced some resistance, particularly from commercial tax-preparation companies.

A spokeswoman for Intuit, Tania Mercado, criticized the direct file project as a “half-baked solution” and a waste of taxpayer money. “The direct file scheme is a solution in search of a problem,” she said. Intuit makes the TurboTax tax preparation software.

Democrats in Congress generally support the idea of free, direct filing, while Republicans contend that the idea, part of President Biden’s plan to overhaul the I.R.S., would give the agency even more power over ordinary taxpayers.

The direct file pilot will be open to low- and moderate-income taxpayers with simple returns. To be eligible, for instance, filers must take the standard deduction and have income limited to wages reported on Form W-2, Social Security or unemployment as well as interest income of $1,500 or less. Gig workers aren’t eligible. The I.R.S. said in November that it expected “at least several hundred thousand taxpayers” to participate in what it called a “limited” pilot. ...

The agency said it planned to issue a public report on the pilot before deciding if the direct filing system should be opened to more tax payers.

Here are some questions and answers about the upcoming tax filing season:

(Hat Tip: Ted Seto)