Overview
- An IRS email from official Cynthia Noe told 25 participating states that Direct File will not be available in Filing Season 2026 and set no future launch date.
- The Direct File portal is closed, and prior users are instructed to request copies of their returns or use IRS online accounts for transcripts.
- Roughly 296,531 returns were accepted through Direct File in 2025, up from about 140,803 in 2024 during the program’s pilot and expansion to 25 states.
- Treasury Secretary and acting IRS commissioner Scott Bessent said the tool was not widely used and that private companies can provide better options.
- Democrats and consumer advocates criticized the shutdown, while House Ways and Means Republicans praised the move and cited a July directive to study public‑private alternatives and replacement costs.