Map Shows 25 States You Can Use Direct File To Submit Taxes
March 5, 2025
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Aliss Higham is a Newsweek reporter based in Glasgow, Scotland. Her focus is reporting on issues across the U.S., including state benefits, national and local politics, and crime. She has previously extensively covered U.S. and European politics, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the British Royal Family. Aliss joined Newsweek full time in January 2024 after a year of freelance reporting and has previously worked at digital Reach titles The Express and The Mirror. She is a graduate in English and Creative Writing from Goldsmiths, University of London. You can get in touch with Aliss by emailing a.higham@newsweek.com. Languages: English.
Aliss Higham
US News Reporter
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Tax season is fully in swing, with tens of millions of Americans having already submitted their returns with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and getting their refund.
IRS launched its Direct File pilot in 12 U.S. states in March 2024, which has now been expanded to 25 states. It allows taxpayers to submit simple returns directly with the government agency completely free of charge, eliminating the need to use a third-party tax preparation service.
Who Can Use Direct File?
You can use Direct File for your federal taxes if you lived and worked in these states for all of 2024:
Alaska
Arizona
California
Connecticut
Florida
Idaho
Illinois
Kansas
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
Oregon
Pennsylvania
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Washington state
Wisconsin
Wyoming
The type of tax returns you will be making also matter, with more complex tax matters not currently covered under Direct File.
Income returns
The following income types can be reported using Direct File:
W-2 wage income
SSA-1099 Social Security income
1099-G unemployment compensation
1099-INT interest income
1099-R retirement income
1099-MISC for Alaska residents reporting the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend
You can’t use Direct File if you had other types of income, such as through a gig economy, rental or business.
Tax credits
The types of tax credits accepted have also been expanded. During the 2024 pilot, Direct File supported taxpayers claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and Credit for Other Dependents.
In 2025, Direct File will also cover taxpayers claiming the following:
Earned Income Tax Credit
Child Tax Credit
Credit for Other Dependents
Child and Dependent Care Credit
Premium Tax Credit
Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled
Retirement Savings Contributions Credit
Deductions
The following deductions are accepted:
Standard deduction
Student loan interest
Educator expenses
Health Savings Account contributions
You are not able to use Direct File if you itemize deductions.
Improvements for 2025
After last year’s pilot, IRS has added new importation features to make the filing process easier. If you’re the primary filer, Direct File can help import your:
Employment and federal wage information from your Form W-2
Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN), if you use one
Social Security number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
Relevant personal information such as your name, date of birth, mailing address, email address, and phone number
You can review the information you import before you submit it to IRS.
Key Tax Deadlines for 2025
April 15: National deadline to file your 2024 tax return. Also the first estimated tax payment for 2025 is due. This payment applies to income earned from January 1 to March 31, 2025.
June 16: Deadline for the second estimated tax payment for 2025, covering income earned from April 1 to May 31.
September 15: Third estimated tax payment for 2025 is due, applicable to income earned from June 1 to August 31.
October 15: Final day to file your 2024 tax return if you’ve been granted a regular six-month extension.
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