2024 Tax Season Begins: IRS Offers Free Filing Options

New Direct File Pilot Program Launched, IRS Enhances Services for Taxpayers

The 2024 tax filing season officially began on Monday, January 29, with returns due on April 15. Taxpayers can file their taxes for free using the IRS Free File program if their adjusted gross income (AGI) was $79,000 or less in 2023.
The IRS has launched a free tax filing pilot program called Direct File, which is now available for federal and state workers in 12 states. The program is expected to be more widely available in mid-March.
Despite free tax filing preparation software being available to 70% of the population through the IRS's Free File program, only 4% of eligible taxpayers use the program.
The IRS expects more than 146 million individual tax returns to be filed this filing season. The deadline for filing is Tax Day, April 15, 2024.
The IRS has made improvements to its services, including extended weekly service hours in nearly 250 Taxpayer Assistance Centers across the country, important new updates to the “Where's My Refund?” tool on IRS.gov, and an enhanced IRS Individual Online Account.