The Internal Revenue Agency has announced Direct File as a permanent option for the 2025 tax filing season. The taxpayers are now wondering about the 2025 tax season beginning date to pay their taxes timely. Eligible taxpayers can check the 2025 tax season starting with the expected date and other changes in 2025 tax filing here.
IRS 2025 Tax Season Start Date
The 2024 tax season has ended and extensions will end in October 2024. The eligible taxpayers are now wondering about the 2025 tax season commencement date. The three months is the federal tax season for taxpayers to report their income to the IRS and fulfill their tax responsibility.
Generally, the federal tax season begins in January for the prior year. Hence, taxpayers can expect the 2025 tax season to commence in January 2025. This year, the tax season started from 29 January 2024 till the tax day, 15 April 2024. The tax day will be the same for all the tax seasons, so taxpayers will need to file their returns before the deadline, 15 April 2025.
Some states may get extended tax deadlines or filers can apply for the extensions. The IRS will announce the full schedule of the 2025 tax season a few weeks before the tax season commences.
The 2025 tax season starting date is not confirmed, but the IRS has announced the updates for the 2025 tax season Direct file options.
IRS Plans for 2025 Tax Season Direct File Option
Earlier this year, the IRS announced the success of Direct file options as the plot analysis where 15,000 direct filers have participated and 90% of filers have ranked their experience as excellent. Seeing the response, the IRS has decided to make Direct File a permanent option to file tax returns in the 2025 tax season.
According to reports, around 140,803 taxpayers have used Direct files to report their income to agencies in the 12 states. As per the announcement, the agency will expand the Direct file to make it available across the nation and enable tax filing seamless for eligible taxpayers in the 2025 tax season. The agency will strive to expand the Direct File system more effectively to ensure that taxpayers have a no-cost option to file their tax returns.
The Treasury Department claims taxpayers have saved their tax fees through the Direct File options. With the current updates on the 2025 tax season, three states have joined the IRS Direct file pilot program, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Oregon. The agency has a plan to include more states in the coming year to expand the Direct File options.
What’s the role & benefit of a Direct File in the tax system?
The IRS believes Direct File tax return options will play an effective role in delivering a successful tax system for the nation in the coming years. The taxpayers have been demanding the no-cost filling options for a long time. However, it does not mean it will replace the other tax filing options that contribute to a successful tax system, such as tax professionals, commercial tax software, etc.
The IRS is continuing its partnership with Free File Inc., a free commercial software, for tax filing for the next five years. The agency has gathered feedback from stakeholders, tax community representatives, Direct File users, and state officials, which is positive and in favor of Direct File options due to the following benefits:
- Direct File options save a lot of time and money for the taxpayers. According to reports, filing taxes through Direct File options usually takes less than an hour. Direct filers don’t have to pay the filing fee or other party to file their tax returns, which leads them to save a lot of money. According to a Treasury Department estimate, the direct filers have saved %5.6 million in the 2024 tax season.
- The direct file option is easy to use and easily accessible on smartphones, laptops, tablets, and computers.
Tax rates for the 2025 tax season
The IRS has set seven tax rates for the 2025 tax season -10%, 12%, 22%, 24%,32%, 35%, and 37%. The taxpayers can check the tax rates for the 2025 tax season with the income threshold below to calculate their taxable income:
| Tax rate | Individuals | Married and filed jointly | Filed separately | Household Head |
| 10% | $11,600 or less | $0 to $23,200 | $11,600 or less | $0 to $16,550 |
| 12% | Above $11,601 but lower than $47,150 | Above $23,201but lower than $94,300 | Above $11,601 but lower than $47,150 | Above $16,551 1 but lower than $63,100 |
| 22% | Above Above $47,151 but lower than $100,525 | Above $ 94,301 but lower than $201,050 | Above $47151 but lower than $100,525 | Above $63,101 but lower than $100,500 |
| 24% | Above $100,526 but lower than $191,950 | Above $201,051 but lower than $382,900 | Above $100,526 but lower than $191,150 | Above $100,501 but lower than $191,150 |
| 32% | Above $191,951 but lower than $243,725 | Above $383,901 but lower than $487,450 | Above $191,151 but lower than $243,725 | Above $191,151 but lower than $243,700 |
| 35% | Above $243,726 but lower than $609,350 | Above $487,451 but lower than $731,200 | Above $243,276 but lower than $365,600 | Above $243,701 but lower than $609,350 |
| 37% | $609,351 or more | $731,201 or more | $365,601 or more | $609,351 or more |
How to file tax returns through Direct File for the 2025 tax season?
When the IRS reopens the direct file options for the 2025 tax season, taxpayers can file their tax return through Direct File in the following ways:
- First, gather your below personal information:
- Social Security number/ ITIN
- Your refund amount and Adjusted gross income
- Current address proof
- Self-select Pin, if you have e-filed the prior year
- Next, go to the official website of IRS Direct File at https://directfile.irs.gov/
- Next, sign in to Direct File with your IRS account ID and file the tax electronically.
The IRS is preparing for the 2025 tax season and striving to make tax filing better and easier for taxpayers. The Direct file options and other details will be soon released by the IRS on the official channels, so taxpayers stay updated.