Direct File Shut Down – But You Could Still Get Your Refund with Other Free Tax Filing Services

Direct File, the digital service that allowed taxpayers to file their federal taxes directly with the IRS for free, closed on October 15th. However, you still have time to claim your tax refund. 

Many people believe that once a year’s filing deadline has passed, it is too late to claim refunds or tax credits, but that is not the case. In fact, you can claim a refund from up to three years back! There are no penalties for filing late if you are owed a refund. Some families with children could be eligible for thousands of dollars in one or more of these tax credits. 

You may qualify for certain tax credits such as the Child Tax Credit (CTC) or the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Once you file, you can usually expect to see money in your account within 21 days if you filed an e-return online. You can opt to receive your refund in a number of ways, including via paper check, direct deposit, or prepaid debit card. 

A tax credit may also reduce what you owe the IRS if you have income you haven’t reported and paid taxes on. If you find you owe money, you can work with the IRS to create a payment plan and get yourself back on track instead of worrying. 

Many low-moderate-income families and individuals may be leaving money on the table, and it’s not too late to see if you could be eligible for a refund. Learn more about free ways to file on our Tax Filing Help page.