The Inflation Reduction Act signed by President Joe Biden in August 2022 invests $80 billion in the IRS over the next 10 years. Since then, the IRS has leveraged the new investment to deliver benefits, improve customer service, increase efficiencies in the processing of tax returns, digitalize documents, and go after wealthy tax cheats.
In the Summer of 2023, the IRS announced that it would be moving forward with a Direct File pilot that will allow taxpayers to e-file directly with the IRS at no cost. This new tool is an exciting step forward towards creating a system for filing taxes that is less predatory and more equitable.
If successful this pilot could benefit over 20 million people and nearly half of all low-income tax payers.
The Tax Equity Funders Network is thrilled to support this effort and work with our partners to ensure its success.
Resources
1. Take a look at this handout for more details on how the funder community can help!
2. U.S. Department of the Treasury Direct File Page, Direct File Graphics (#1, #2 & #3), and Partner Outreach Toolkit in English and Spanish
3. Learn more about the scope and parameters of the pilot program from the Coalition for Free and Fair Filing. A printable summary of the pilot can be found here. Links to additional resources are below.
- Get flyers, email templates, social media posts and SMS messages from the Coalition’s Resources Folder on Google Drive
- And, get all of these resources in Spanish here
4. Helpful Tax Research & Information
5. In partnership with Prosperity Now, the Tax Equity Funders Network worked with network members and field leaders for more than a year to identify and write about innovative strategies that can help to maximize the number of individuals and families who have access to tax credits and non-predatory tax preparation services. Innovation #5, Waiving Income Reporting to Improve Access to the Tax System by Gabriel Zucker of Code for America provides information about the power of Direct File.