WISCONSIN – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Governor Tony Evers, and the Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) announced that Wisconsin will join the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Direct File program for filing season 2025, enabling eligible Wisconsin taxpayers with an option to file their taxes online directly with the IRS for free. According to the U.S. Department of Treasury, the average taxpayer spends approximately 13 hours and $270 to prepare their taxes each year. For years, Senator Baldwin has been advocating to simplify that process to save taxpayers time and eliminate unnecessary third-party costs.
“Filing your taxes should be easy and free, but right now the system is rigged to line the pockets of giant third-party tax-prep companies and Wisconsinites are left wasting hours and hundreds of dollars each year,” said Senator Tammy Baldwin. “I voted for the Inflation Reduction Act to put money back into the pockets of hard-working families, not pad the profits of these big third-party companies that charge exorbitant junk fees. I’m thrilled to be working with Governor Evers so Wisconsinites can save time and money by filing their taxes directly with the IRS.”
“Thanks to the efforts of our federal partners like Sen. Baldwin and the Biden-Harris Administration, next year, Wisconsin taxpayers will be able to file their taxes securely, easily, and for free directly with the IRS with no surprise fees through the new Direct File Program,” said Governor Tony Evers. “This is going to save hardworking folks time and money, and we look forward to seeing how the Direct File and new WisTax programs will work together to better serve Wisconsinites when tax season comes around in 2025.”
“This is a big win for taxpayers across the state,” Congressman Mark Pocan (D-WI-02) said. “It’s exciting to see Direct File come to Wisconsin, making it easier for people to file their taxes online for free. This streamlined process will save everyday Wisconsinites time and money by eliminating unnecessary middlemen who charge exorbitant fees to file your taxes. I’ve been a strong advocate for Direct File and am grateful to IRS Commissioner Werfel and Governor Evers for helping turn this vision into a reality.”
“We are excited about both WisTax and the Direct File program because they provide an improved customer experience for Wisconsin taxpayers that is free, accurate, and user friendly,” said DOR Secretary David Casey.
Launched as a pilot program in a dozen states in 2024, Direct File users claimed more than $90 million in refunds and saved an estimated $5.6 million in tax preparation fees. The platform’s success and positive feedback encouraged the IRS to move forward with a nationwide rollout for the 2025 tax filing season.
Starting in 2025, Wisconsinites will be able to file both their state and federal taxes online. After completing their federal returns in Direct File, Wisconsin taxpayers will be taken to WisTax to complete their state taxes quickly and easily for free.
Senator Baldwin has long advocated for a free, direct E-file program to make tax filing simpler and more affordable for millions of Americans:
- May 2024: Senator Baldwin and a group of her colleagues applauded the successful pilot of the IRS Direct File program and urged the Biden Administration to make it permanent and expand its reach.
- April 2023: Senator Baldwin urged the IRS Commissioner to simplify the tax process and broaden access to free e-filing options.
- August 2022: Senator Baldwin voted for the Inflation Reduction Act, supplying the IRS with the funding necessary to enhance and modernize the U.S. tax system.
- July 2022: Senator Baldwin introduced the Tax Filing Simplification Act of 2022 to simplify the tax filing process for millions of Americans by lowering costs, eliminating red tape for all taxpayers, and saving them hours and hundreds of dollars.
Eligible taxpayers can file using a smartphone, laptop, tablet, or desktop computer. For eligibility requirements and additional information, visit directfile.irs.gov and revenue.wi.gov.
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