MURRAY – While local Certified Public Accountant Nathan Crafton said the IRS Direct File program had its share of problems, its elimination means taxpayers will lose one of the few free filing options available.

According to the Associated Press, the Trump administration confirmed last week that it is scrapping IRS Direct File ahead of the 2026 tax season. The program was launched during the Biden administration, and while it was praised by some, many Republican lawmakers criticized it as a waste of taxpayer money. The AP reported that a Freedom of Information Act request submitted by the Center for Taxpayer Rights revealed that 296,531 taxpayers submitted accepted returns for the 2025 tax season through Direct File, which was an increase from the 140,803 accepted in 2024.

Crafton, a CP

See Full Page