File your taxes for free
The federal tax filing deadline has passed, but you can use Direct File until October 15.
Direct File is:
Find out if Direct File is the right option for your 2024 taxes.
Import your tax information directly from the IRS
Direct File can save you time by filling in some of your information, like your employment and wage information from your Form W-2, if it's available.
More benefits of Direct File
- Get guided help for every part of your federal tax return
- File from your smartphone, tablet, or computer
- Access live support from IRS staff, Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern time
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
You may also need to file state taxes. After you complete your federal return, Direct File will guide you to your state's free filing tool. In some cases, we can transfer your data to your state's tool.
If your state is not listed here, you can't use Direct File.
For more news and updates about Direct File:
- Learn more about how Direct File works
- Sign up for the Direct File newsletter
If you need help while using Direct File, online chat support is available in English and Spanish.
If you have questions about something else, you can find support from the IRS anytime.
New for 2025
If you're the primary filer, Direct File can help import some of your information, like:
- Employment and federal wage information from your Form W-2
- Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN), if you use one
- Your Social Security number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
- Your name, date of birth, mailing address, email address, and phone number
- Interest information from any Forms 1099-INT, if applicable
You can review the information you import before you submit it to the IRS.
What we're working on next
We're expanding data import to include more forms and tax information to make filing your taxes even easier.
What people said about Direct File last year
It was clean and extremely easy to navigate. It told me exactly what I needed to input, and instructions were easy and straightforward.
I love that it was free, transparent, and very direct. It was super simple, and it felt both secure and very streamlined. Great experience!
How to use Direct File after the filing deadline
If you used Direct File to submit your return, a copy of it will be available from your Direct File dashboard for seven years after you file.
To download it:
- Sign into Direct File
- Go to your dashboard
- Follow the prompts to download your federal tax return (Form 1040, PDF)
If you used a different tool to submit your tax return, find out how to access your tax records.
If your federal return was accepted and you need to make a change, you need to submit an amended return. You can do this by submitting a "Form 1040-X," to the IRS.
You can't use Direct File to prepare and submit an amended return.
If your federal return was rejected on or after April 15, 2025, you have until April 20, 2025 to resubmit and still have your return be considered timely.
For most rejections, you can use Direct File to resubmit. Direct File will tell you how to resolve the rejection.
If you are not able to resubmit through Direct File, you will need to find another way to file
Your tax deadline may be different if you were impacted by a disaster.
Learn more about tax relief in disaster situations
You can use Direct File to submit your federal tax return before the tax relief deadline.
Get help with your taxes
The IRS provides 90% of refunds in less than 21 days, whether or not you use Direct File.
Refunds may take longer if the IRS has to do extra reviews or get more information.
Help is available directly from the IRS--online, over the phone, or in person.
If Direct File isn't a good fit for your tax situation, there are other ways to file your taxes this year.
If you file after April 15 and owe federal taxes, you may be charged interest and penalties, such as a failure to file penalty.
The IRS will send you a letter about any penalties and work with you to arrange payment. In the meantime, you should file and pay any balance due as soon as possible using one of these payment options.
If you file after April 15 and you don't owe any taxes, there is generally no failure to file penalty. But whether any penalties apply depends on the circumstances.
Your deadline may be postponed if you were impacted by a disaster.