If you didn't take advantage of the IRS' free Direct File service this year, you may have missed your chance.

According to an AP News report, President Donald Trump plans to end IRS Direct File, the electronic system that lets residents in 25 states file their federal tax returns directly to the agency for free.

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The program began in 2024 in 12 states and later expanded. 

Lawmakers opposed to the program said that because free alternatives already exist, Direct File is a waste of taxpayer money. Users, however, praised the program, saying it made filing taxes easier and more efficient than ever. I've always filed my own taxes, but after using the Direct File system this year, I can confirm that it was the fastest and easiest it's ever been.

The system was so efficient because it utilized and prefilled a lot of information that the IRS already has about taxpayers. Under other programs, the user will need to enter all of their information on their own.

IRS Direct File falls under 18F, a technology services agency within the federal government that helps other government agencies build, buy, and share technology products. 

In February of this year, Elon Musk said that 18F has been "deleted." 

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Other notable 18F projects include the US Web Design System, which made more than 200 government websites more accessible and responsive to user needs, login.gov, which provides secure access to participating government websites, and a reimagining of weather.gov in collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to help members of the public and emergency managers find, understand, and act on weather information.

Instead of IRS Direct file, you'll now have to use a paid service or one of the other free services. While those services don't have a cost, each one has its own eligibility guidelines that differ from Direct File and may not be as easy to use. 

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