IRS Closes Direct File Portal, Taxpayers Shift to Free File
November 9, 2025 • Ben Asmadeus
The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) closed the Direct File portal, a free SPT (annual tax return) filing service, on 9 November 2025 in Washington, D.C. The portal previously let taxpayers submit returns at no cost, reducing reliance on commercial tax‑software providers.
Acting IRS Commissioner and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the shutdown was due to low usage and that the agency has prepared an alternative. The recommended replacement is the Free File program, a tax‑return application developed by a consortium of tax‑software companies.
Following the closure, taxpayers can file for free only through Free File if their adjusted gross income does not exceed US$84,000 per year; those with higher incomes must use paid filing services.
Source: DDTCNews