EVERETT — If you put off filing your taxes until the last minute, you might be in luck.
You could file for free.
More than 1.1 million Washingtonians with straightforward tax returns qualify for a free option to file their taxes this year, through a pilot program launched earlier this month.
In a call with reporters Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Medina, said the Direct File pilot allows taxpayers to easily and securely file taxes to the Internal Revenue Service at no cost.
“Filing taxes can be expensive, confusing and time consuming for so many taxpayers,” said DelBene, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee whose district runs from Bellevue to Arlington.
Direct File, run by the IRS, is available in 12 states, including Washington.
As users file their taxes, the website shows the math in calculating returns, so taxpayers can know their return is accurate, said Laurel Blatchford, the implementation officer of the Inflation Reduction Act for the U.S. Treasury.
The pilot program is funded through President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. At the end of the year, the IRS will evaluate the pilot program and determine if it should expand.
“Other developed countries have provided free tax filing options to their citizens,” Blatchford said. “The IRS should really have that same option.”
A few requirements to be eligible for participation include:
• Washington residency for all of 2023;
• No other taxable income in another state;
• Income under $200,000 in 2023;
• Income from a W-2, Social Security benefits or unemployment benefits.
Visit directfile.irs.gov to confirm if you qualify.
It should take about an hour or less to file a return, Blatchford said.
In 2023, the IRS estimated it takes around 13 hours for the average taxpayer to file a return, including record-keeping, tax planning and form completion. When using Direct File, taxpayers must verify their identity through ID.me, a verification process that asks for a valid government ID and a selfie video.
Free programs like Direct File have been part of a movement in Congress to offer alternatives to for-profit services where workers pay to file their returns. In January, the Federal Trade Commission found TurboTax’s parent company engaged in deceptive practices while advertising free tax preparation services.
Around 50,000 people have used the Direct File program since it launched on March 12, according to the U.S. Treasury. In total, a few hundred thousand taxpayers are expected to use it this tax season, DelBene said.
On average, taxpayers spend $270 to prepare and file their return, Blatchford said.
For Snohomish County residents wanting in-person help, taxpayers making under $64,000 per year can access the IRS’s volunteer income tax assistance programs.
Leading up to tax day, volunteers provide free tax help at various locations around the county.
Direct File is open 24/7 and can be accessed on a laptop or smartphone. A Spanish language version of Direct File is also available.
The deadline to file a tax return is April 15.
Jenelle Baumbach: 360-352-8623; jenelle.baumbach@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @jenelleclar.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
