The program was in test mode for several weeks so early users could file 2023 federal income tax returns. The IRS said, “Thousands of taxpayers have successfully used the system, and early users are giving the new option positive reviews.”

The next phase throws the program open to about 19 million taxpayers. 

­The IRS said the pilot provides “a streamlined way for people with simpler tax situations to file directly with the agency." It says the program shows all work behind calculations. Taxpayers can pause returns and sign in at any time before the April filing deadline.

Support is available from IRS customer service representatives through a live chat feature.

The pilot states are Arizona, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming.  Those in states with a state-income tax—Arizona, California, Massachusetts and New York—will be guided to a state-sponsored tool to complete state returns.

The program is an option for the taxpayers who do the following:                                                                                                                                                 *Report income earned from jobs that generate a Form W-2; including taxpayers with more than one job with W-2 wages;                                                               *Claim Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and the Credit for Other Dependents;                                                                                                     *Claim the standard deduction and deductions for educator expenses and student loan interest;                                                                                                                                                 *Lived in the same state for the entire calendar year 2023.

Those who aren’t eligible for the pilot will be directed to Free File on IRS.gov. 

Bob Scott

• Email

Bob Scott has provided information to the tax and accounting community since 1991, first as technology editor of Accounting Today, and from 1997 through 2009 as editor of its sister publication, Accounting Technology. He is known throughout the industry for his depth of knowledge and for his high journalistic standards.  Scott has made frequent appearances as a speaker, moderator and panelist and events serving tax and accounting professionals. He  has a strong background in computer journalism as an editor with two former trade publications, Computer+Software News and MIS Week and spent several years with weekly and daily newspapers in Morris County New Jersey prior to that.  A graduate of Indiana University with a degree in journalism, Bob is a native of Madison, Ind