Free tax filing tool Direct File is getting the open source treatment

A hot potato: Before the new Trump administration took office, the IRS had been working to modernize its aging technology infrastructure and implement major changes aimed at improving the taxpayer experience. Now, the agency faces the risk of being significantly weakened or even dismantled entirely. However, one small piece of consumer-facing software is expected to survive the political upheaval.

The IRS launched Direct File in 2024, offering US citizens a free, user-friendly online platform for filing federal income tax returns. The software quickly gained popularity despite lobbying efforts to derail the project. Now published under an open-source license, Direct File represents a victory for taxpayers, at least when it comes to simplifying the tax-filing process.

The IRS has made most of Direct File's source code available on GitHub, though some components were excluded. The repository does not include any sensitive personal data or code developed for National Security Systems ...