IRS Tax Filing Opens on January 27—Discover How New Features Can Help You File Faster?

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has revealed that the 2025 tax season will officially begin on Monday, January 27.

This year, the IRS is rolling out a range of new features and tools aimed at making the tax filing process easier for taxpayers.

These upgrades are part of the IRS’s ongoing modernization efforts to improve services and provide more assistance to those filing their taxes.

IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel highlighted the importance of these improvements in a press release, stating,

“This has been a historic period of improvement for the IRS, and people will see additional tools and features to help them with filing their taxes this tax season.”

He also emphasized that while these updates are significant, the IRS continues to work towards more advancements, ensuring that the nation’s tax system is more efficient and taxpayer-friendly.

Here’s a closer look at the new features available this year:

Direct File Opens on January 27 for Eligible Taxpayers in 25 States

The Direct File program, which allows eligible taxpayers to file their taxes directly with the IRS for free, will open on the first day of the filing season, January 27.

This service is available to taxpayers in 25 states, making it easier for them to file their taxes directly with the IRS.

The service includes an automatic data import feature, which helps taxpayers import their IRS account information into their tax returns.

This year, a new chatbot has been added to assist users through the filing process, providing guidance and answering questions as needed.

The program is available in the following states:

• Alaska,
• Arizona,
• California,
• Connecticut,
• Florida,
• Idaho,
• Illinois,
• Kansas,
• Maine,
• Maryland,
• Massachusetts,
• Nevada,
• New Hampshire,
• New Jersey,
• New Mexico,
• New York,
• North Carolina,
• Pennsylvania,
• South Dakota,
• Tennessee,
• Texas,
• Washington,
• Wisconsin,
• Wyoming.

IRS Free File Program Available Now

Although the IRS will not start accepting tax returns until January 27, taxpayers can begin preparing and filing their returns now through the IRS Free File program.

This program, which has been around for 23 years, provides free tax preparation software to those with an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $84,000 or less.

Free File is a public-private partnership between the IRS and Free File Inc. Taxpayers can access the software directly from the IRS website.

This year, one of the program’s partners will offer a product in Spanish, expanding access to a larger group of taxpayers. This service allows taxpayers to electronically file their returns for free, helping them get a head start on the filing process.

Other Free Tax Filing Options

In addition to Free File and Direct File, the IRS offers several other free filing programs to assist taxpayers. These include:

• Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE): These programs provide free tax help for eligible individuals, including low-income families, seniors, people with disabilities, and non-English speakers. IRS-certified volunteers work in local communities to help prepare tax returns.
• MilTax: This program, available through the Department of Defense, provides free tax preparation and e-filing software for military members and some veterans. The service includes help with federal income tax returns and up to three state income tax returns, with no income limit.

IRS Individual Online Account and Enhanced Services

The IRS continues to enhance its Individual Online Account, which offers taxpayers the ability to manage their tax information easily.

Through this online tool, individuals can access key details from their most recent tax return, request an Identity Protection PIN, receive account transcripts, sign tax forms, and view electronic notices.

This account also allows users to make or cancel payments, set up or change payment plans, and update language preferences.

A new feature on the IRS Online Account homepage helps protect taxpayers from scams by alerting them to emerging threats.

This banner provides a link to the IRS’s Digital Notices and Letters page, where taxpayers can view official correspondence and verify its legitimacy.

Mobile-Friendly Tax Forms and Virtual Assistants

Taxpayers can now access 67 IRS forms on their mobile devices, including cell phones and tablets.

These forms feature a “save and draft” function, which allows users to start filling out a form, save their progress, and return to it later. This addition also enables multiple spouses to sign a form, enhancing accessibility and convenience.

Additionally, the IRS has introduced voicebot services to assist taxpayers when they call the IRS.

This AI-powered system can answer common questions about refunds and other tax-related topics.

Available in both English and Spanish, the voicebot allows taxpayers to authenticate their identity and access their refund information without needing to wait for a live representative.

Conclusion

The IRS’s efforts to modernize and improve its services are set to make the 2025 tax season smoother and more efficient for taxpayers.

With new tools like Direct File, enhanced online accounts, and improved mobile access, filing taxes will be more convenient than ever.

Taxpayers can also take advantage of free resources such as Free File, VITA, TCE, and MilTax to get the help they need. These updates are just the beginning of the IRS’s commitment to making the tax system more accessible and easier to navigate.

Source

Disclaimer- Our team has thoroughly fact-checked this article to ensure its accuracy and maintain its credibility. We are committed to providing honest and reliable content for our readers.