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Home / Money & Finance / Tax Software / IRS Direct File
7.6 Tested Aug 20, 2026 by Team RankingRight

IRS Direct File (Free, 25 states) review 2026

The government's own filer: free, plain, and limited to common situations in the states that joined — it handled our W-2 family and nothing else

PriceFrom $0 · checked Sep 11, 2026
Matched CPA1 /3 (2 unsupported)
Freelancer return—

Is the IRS Direct File Worth It?

Best for simple returns in participating states. If you have a W-2, the standard deduction and live in a participating state, Direct File is the cleanest free option there is. It ranks low because it could not file two of our three returns.

IRS Direct File Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Free, no upsells, no account with a private company
  • Live chat with IRS staff
  • Matched the CPA on the W-2 family return
  • Pulls some IRS-held wage data
Cons
  • Could not do the freelancer or investor return — no Schedule C, D or E
  • Only 25 states
  • State return is a hand-off to a separate tool

IRS Direct File at a Glance

7.6 Editor Score
Accuracy & guidanceWhether the software reached the CPA's refund on our three returns, and how well its questions caught deductions and credits.
20/30
PriceFederal plus one state for each of the three returns, at the tier the return actually required, in the last week of March.
25/25
Ease of useTime to complete each return, clarity of the interview, and upsell interruptions.
16/20
SupportHelp content, live chat, access to a tax professional, audit assistance.
10/15
Import & featuresW-2 and 1099 import, brokerage import, prior-year import from competitors, refund options.
5/10
Reader ratingNo reader ratings yet — not part of the score
–
Own one? Rate it:

Rubric v1: Accuracy & guidance 30 · Price 25 · Ease of use 20 · Support 15 · Import & features 10. Score = Σ ÷ 10, locked Sep 11, 2026. How we rank.

Where to buy — prices checked Sep 11, 2026

IRS — $0

Best priceVisit Site

IRS Direct File specifications

Free federalYes
Simple return (fed + state)0 USD
Schedule CNo
Tax pro accessIRS live chat
Audit supportN/A
ImportsIRS-held W-2 data (pilot)
State returns25 participating states; separate free state filing

Why it scored 7.6

If you have a W-2, the standard deduction and live in a participating state, Direct File is the cleanest free option there is. It ranks low because it could not file two of our three returns.

Where it loses

Coverage of forms and states.

Still the right pick for

Simple returns in the 25 states.

IRS Direct File7.6 · $0
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