"IRS Expands Free Tax Filing Program Nationwide: What Taxpayers Need to Know"

The IRS reports a 9.7% increase in the use of its Free File guided tax software for the 2024 filing season, with 943,000 taxpayers submitting returns through the program. Refunds totaling $92.9 billion have been sent out, with an average payment of $3,213. The agency is also launching a pilot scheme called Direct File, providing a free tax payment system for eligible American workers. Additionally, the IRS is cracking down on high-earners who have failed to file tax returns, identifying 125,000 suspected cases of non-compliance among those earning over $400,000 annually.