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Alex Howard (digiphile@mastodon.social)'s status on Friday, 31-May-2024 07:40:56 JST Alex Howard

In a HUGE win for digital government in the USA, US Treasury says Direct File will be a permanent, free tax filing option! https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy2385
NB: A USGSA survey of 11,000+ filers found 90% ranked the UX as “Excellent” or “Above Average,” after a successful pilot with 140,000 Americans that saved an estimated $5.6M in costs.
Next steps: invest more to pre-populate returns, test, iterate, & scale.
In conversation about 5 months ago from mastodon.social permalink
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  U.S. Department of the Treasury, IRS Announce Direct File as Permanent Free Tax Filing Option, All 50 States and D.C. Invited to Join in Filing Season 2025
  
  New Free Tool Made Possible by Resources from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction ActWASHINGTON—Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that Direct File will be a permanent, free tax filing option and invited all 50 states and the District of Columbia to join in Filing Season 2025. This announcement follows a successful Pilot Program that saw 140,000 taxpayers claim more than $90 million in refunds and save an estimated $5.6 million in filing costs. Direct File was made possible by resources from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act to invest in the IRS and deliver world-class service to American taxpayers that saves them time and money. The Treasury Department’s goal in the coming years is to expand the reach and tax scope of Direct File to provide an option for working-and middle-class taxpayers nationwide. “President Biden is committed to saving Americans time and money and ensuring families receive the tax benefits they’re owed. Providing a free tool to all Americans who want the option to file directly with the IRS is key to achieving those goals,” said U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen. “After a successful pilot, we are making Direct File permanent and inviting all 50 states to offer this free filing option to their residents. The Treasury Department and IRS look forward to working with states to expand Direct File for Americans across the country.”Direct File is central to the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to deliver modern, world-class customer service using Inflation Reduction Act resources. Direct File also advances a goal of the IRS’s Strategic Operation Plan (SOP) to ensure that taxpayers receive tax credits that they are eligible for, like the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit. The IRS will continue to improve the product over time and ensure that it remains free, secure, and easy to use.Background on the Direct File Pilot ProgramThe average American spends $270 and 13 hours filing their taxes. (Taxpayer Burden Survey) President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act required the IRS to study the potential for an IRS-run Direct e-File System that would allow taxpayers to file taxes for free, directly with the IRS. After reviewing the report, which showed strong taxpayer interest in a free IRS filing option, the Treasury Department initiated a pilot of IRS Direct File during the 2024 Filing Season.In Filing Season 2024, Direct File was available to taxpayers with simple tax situations in 12 states. The Pilot exceeded expectations with more than 140,000 Americans successfully filing in the five weeks the program was widely available following extensive product testing. These filers claimed more than $90 million in refunds and saved an estimated $5.6 million in tax preparation fees on their federal returns alone.Direct File users also reported a high degree of satisfaction and quick answers to their filing questions. In a GSA Touchpoints survey of more than 11,000 Direct File users, 90 percent of respondents ranked their experience with Direct File as “Excellent” or “Above Average.” A majority of survey respondents who filed taxes in the prior year reported having to pay to prepare their taxes last year. Among survey respondents, 47 percent of users paid to file their taxes last year and 16 percent did not file last year at all. In Treasury and IRS engagements with Direct File users, taxpayers relayed that Direct File was straightforward to use, and they valued features that allowed them to learn more about different tax situations, credits, and deductions. Taxpayers emphasized their appreciation for the fact that Direct File is always free and there are no hidden fees or attempts to upsell users as they moved through the filing process. Taxpayers also shared that filing directly with the IRS gave them confidence and that they were able to quickly fix mistakes and get their taxes filed accurately. After engaging directly with users to hear about their experience, reviewing results from a GSA touchpoints survey, and analyzing additional data, IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel recommended to Secretary Yellen to make Direct File permanent. He cited overwhelming satisfaction from users, improved ease of tax filing, and lower costs for taxpayers among the reasons for his recommendation, which Secretary Yellen has accepted.###
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  Alex Howard (digiphile@mastodon.social)'s status on Friday, 31-May-2024 07:40:54 JST Alex Howard
  in reply to
  - Jessamyn
  @jessamyn ditto. It’s wonderful to be over the moon about an objectively great outcome & decision from a pilot that panned out after corporate lobbying stopped the USA from entering the new century like peer democracies. We get so few times to celebrate right now.
  
  In conversation about 5 months ago permalink
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  Joe Ortiz (joeo10@mastodon.sdf.org)'s status on Friday, 31-May-2024 07:40:54 JST Joe Ortiz
  in reply to
  - Jessamyn
  @digiphile @jessamyn If only the IRS can get login.gov rolling out faster. That's still a huge barrier for many and one of the main reasons why I didn't use it this year despite being eligible. https://cyberscoop.com/irs-facial-recognition-identity-privacy/
  In conversation about 5 months ago permalink
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  1. Domain not in remote thumbnail source whitelist: login.gov
    
    The public’s one account for government. | Login.gov
    
    Use one account and password for secure, private access to participating government agencies.
  2. Domain not in remote thumbnail source whitelist: cyberscoop.com
    
    A year after outcry, IRS still doesn't offer taxpayers alternative to ID.me
    
    from Tonya Riley
    
    The agency sparked controversy over its decision to deploy facial recognition technology from the company to vet taxpayers' identity.
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  Jessamyn (jessamyn@glammr.us)'s status on Friday, 31-May-2024 07:40:55 JST Jessamyn
  in reply to
  
  @digiphile I am stupidly excited about this.
  
  In conversation about 5 months ago permalink
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  Joe Ortiz (joeo10@mastodon.sdf.org)'s status on Friday, 31-May-2024 10:51:06 JST Joe Ortiz
  in reply to
  - Jessamyn
  @jessamyn @digiphile Indeed, that's what the IRS should have done.
  
  In conversation about 5 months ago permalink
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  Alex Howard (digiphile@mastodon.social)'s status on Friday, 31-May-2024 10:51:08 JST Alex Howard
  in reply to
  - Jessamyn
  - Joe Ortiz
  @jessamyn @joeo10 “Login.gov offers in-person identity verification at a United States Postal Service (USPS) location near you as an alternative to verifying your identity online” https://www.login.gov/help/verify-your-identity/verify-your-identity-in-person/ can’t love this enough
  In conversation about 5 months ago permalink
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  1. Domain not in remote thumbnail source whitelist: login.gov
    
    Verify your identity in person | Login.gov
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  Jessamyn (jessamyn@glammr.us)'s status on Friday, 31-May-2024 10:51:08 JST Jessamyn
  in reply to
  - Joe Ortiz
  @digiphile @joeo10 Well how about that? That is how it SHOULD work and it's nice to know that it does, or might.
  
  In conversation about 5 months ago permalink
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  Jessamyn (jessamyn@glammr.us)'s status on Friday, 31-May-2024 10:51:09 JST Jessamyn
  in reply to
  - Joe Ortiz
  @joeo10 @digiphile ID.me is definitely a stumbling block. I've had people in the public library who needed to do a video chat just to verify their identity and... that won't scale (and yes, also privacy issues). I hope they have some creative solutions.
  In conversation about 5 months ago permalink
  Attachments
  1. Domain not in remote thumbnail source whitelist: idme-design.s3.amazonaws.com
    
    Simple, Secure Identity Verification | ID.me
    
    ID.me simplifies how individuals share and prove their identity online. ID.me's next generation platform facilitates identity proofing, authentication, and group affiliation verification for over 500 organizations.

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