That website is IRS Direct File, which was well reviewed but little used in its 2024 debut as a free alternative to online tax prep services like TurboTax. I described Direct File, which lets you file your tax return online directly with the Internal Revenue Service, as proof that government technology can be pleasant to use.

More than 30 million taxpayers across the country are eligible to file their federal tax returns completely free-of-charge this year using Direct File, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has said. Tax season is underway, with the IRS currently accepting payments and returns for 2024. The deadline to file is April 15.

The US DOGE Department is proposing to cut the IRS workforce by an additional 7,000 employees, on top of the 10,000 that have already been fired or taken voluntary buy outs.

The Trump administration has demoted its top Internal Revenue Service lawyer and replaced him after the Department of Government Efficiency received pushback while trying to obtain confidential taxpayer information.

The acting chief counsel of the IRS has been removed from his position as Elon Musk’s U.S. DOGE Service seeks access to sensitive taxpayer records, according to people familiar with the matter.