The internal revenue service announced that qualified California state taxpayers can now use internal revenue service Direct File, a brand-new service that offers taxpayers with the choice to digitally submit their federal tax return straight with the IRS free of charge.

Direct File is a mobile-friendly, interview-based service that will work also on a mobile phone as it does on a desktop, tablet or laptop computer system.

Individuals in 12 states, including California, are qualified to participate in the 2024 Direct File pilot and will be limited to taxpayers with certain kinds of earnings, credits and deductions-- taxpayers with relatively easy returns. This new service is available up until the tax filing due date of April 15, 2024.

" Direct File is an excellent new resource and extra choice for California state taxpayers to utilize to submit their federal tax return. And most significantly, it's free," stated IRS representative Yiliu Wang. "One of the primary steps interested taxpayers should do is to examine their eligibility and there is an easy tool on IRS.gov to do simply that."

Customer service

Taxpayers getting involved in the pilot can get assist from IRS workers staffing the Direct File consumer support function with live chat access. Internal revenue service client service representatives can supply technical assistance and supply standard explanation of tax law related to the tax scope of Direct File.
Eligibility to take part in the Direct File pilot is limited to reporting only particular kinds of income and declaring minimal credits and adjustments. It consists of:

Earnings reporting

• W-2 wage earnings


• Social Security and railway retirement earnings


• Unemployment compensation


• Interest of $1,500 or less

Credits

• Earned Income Tax Credit


• Child Tax Credit


• Credit for Other Dependents

Deductions

• Standard deduction


• Student loan interest


• Educator expenditures

A new electronic filing alternative

Direct File does not change existing filing choices like tax experts, IRS Free File, complimentary return preparation websites, business software or authorized e-file suppliers. Taxpayers will continue to have options, whether they wish to use a tax professional, a software product, Free File, free tax preparation services like Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) as well as a paper income tax return or Direct File.

Additional resources:

For more info about Direct File, check out the resources listed below:

Direct File|Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov).

Direct File pilot news|Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov).

A closer look at the IRS Direct File pilot|Internal Revenue Service.

Internal Revenue Service Direct File Update: Free, safe and secure, IRS-run, electronic filing alternative on track to be available in 2024 as a limited pilot|Internal Revenue Service.