Digital Government
Republican lawmakers ask Trump to kill IRS Direct File
The new program intended to enable free, online tax filing directly with the government has garnered controversy and praise since its inception.
Digital Government
Trump signals new direction for IRS as he announces atypical plan to replace its leadership
The agency is mid-transformation thanks to an unprecedented cash infusion, but those efforts are now in doubt.
Artificial Intelligence
AI can improve how federal employees do their jobs, but training and resources need to be a priority
The IRS chief human capital officer said that training can no longer be viewed as an expendable expense.
Digital Government
Hill Dems question IRS on identity verification requirements for Direct File
Taxpayers had to go through outsourced identity verification to use Direct File during the last tax season, a level of assurance the lawmakers note is not required for commercial tax prep companies.
Digital Government
Bipartisan Senate duo seeks to push IRS customer service forward
The tax agency is already working on some of the items in the bill — like improving online accounts.
Modernization
IRS delay on key system could cost up to $70 million
The IRS had been considering switching to a new system for core, individual tax processing, but it’s waiting to do so until after the coming tax season.
Digital Government
IRS Direct File to be available in 24 states next year
The agency is also expanding the scope of tax situations the tool will cover.
Modernization
Inside the IRS push for digital transformation
IRS employees at an Austin, Texas processing center must still sort through heaps of paper documents. But digitization tools are being powered on to help.
Exclusive
Modernization
IRS will stick with legacy processing system for the upcoming tax season
The IRS is waiting to switch away from the old Individual Master File “out of an abundance of caution,” despite hopes to potentially convert to the new one this year, IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel told Nextgov/FCW.
Modernization
IRS is flying blind without plans to modernize legacy tech, watchdog says
This isn’t the first time the IRS has been called out by oversight officials for a lack of detailed technology planning.
Digital Government
IRS program to assist poor taxpayers rarely picks up the phone
TIGTA investigators were unable to leave a message at 16 local Taxpayer Advocate Service offices because their voicemail boxes were full.
Acquisition
Treasury’s funding request for IRS cloud tech far outpaces other civilian agencies, report says
Treasury’s request is the largest out of a combined federal civilian total of almost $9 billion for cloud-related programs in their fiscal year 2025 IT budget requests.
Cybersecurity
Identity theft victims are waiting almost 2 years for help from the IRS
The tax agency needs to do more to bring down that wait time, the National Taxpayer Advocate says.
Digital Government
What it will take to make Direct File permanent
The IRS will have to grapple with expanding access and capabilities — while also convincing skeptical lawmakers to maintain funding.
Breaking News
Digital Government
IRS makes Direct File permanent
The tool piloted during the recent tax season helped certain taxpayers file online with the government for free.
People
IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel details his hefty tech to-do list
Enabling taxpayers to fully interact with the IRS digitally is a “generational imperative,” the agency head said.
Exclusive
Modernization
IRS is making headway on modernizing 1960s-era tax system, commissioner says
The IRS is currently testing a modernized Individual Master File system in the hopes it can potentially switch to the modern version for the next tax season.
Ideas
New IRS statistics demonstrate Direct File is costly and redundant
COMMENTARY | Rather than spending millions of dollars on an unproven, unnecessary and costly program, the IRS should redirect its resources towards bolstering Free File, a no-cost private alternative.
Digital Government
IRS considers future of Direct File pilot
The agency hasn’t decided if it’ll field the program long term but does say that user feedback of the tool has largely been positive.
Ideas
The case for making Direct File permanent
COMMENTARY | The Direct File pilot was a landmark event for the tax system and a victory for the civic technology movement. Now its time to make the program available to all taxpayers on a permanent basis.
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