Wisconsin taxpayers will be able to file their returns electronically, according to information released by the office of Gov. Tony Evers late last month.
According to the release, Evers, along with U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin and the Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) announced jointly that the state will join the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Direct File program, making electronic filing available for filing season 2025.
The move will enable eligible Wisconsin taxpayers to file their taxes online directly with the IRS for free.
According to the U.S. Department of Treasury, the release noted, the average taxpayer spends approximately 13 hours and $270 to prepare their taxes each year.
“Direct File simplifies that process saving taxpayers time and eliminating the burden of cost,” the release read.
“Thanks to the efforts of our federal partners like Sen. Baldwin and the Biden-Harris Administration, next year, Wisconsin taxpayers will be able to file their taxes securely, easily, and for free directly with the IRS with no surprise fees through the new Direct File Program. This is going to save hardworking folks time and money, and we look forward to seeing how the Direct File and new WisTax programs will work together to better serve Wisconsinites when tax season comes around in 2025,” Evers was quoted as saying in the release.
As noted in the release, the Direct File program was made possible by the Biden-Harris Administration through the Inflation Reduction Act, which was passed in 2022.
Baldwin, was among Democrats who championed the Inflation Reduction Act and has been a “staunch advocate” for launching Wisconsin’s Direct File Program to give taxpayers a no cost filing option for their federal taxes, the release stated.
“Filing your taxes should be easy and free, but right now the system is rigged to line the pockets of giant third-party tax-prep companies, and Wisconsinites are left wasting hours and hundreds of dollars each year. I voted for the Inflation Reduction Act to put money back into the pockets of hardworking families, not pad the profits of these big third-party companies that charge exorbitant junk fees. I’m thrilled to be working with Gov. Evers so Wisconsinites can save time and money by filing their taxes directly with the IRS,” Baldwin said within the release.
Launched as a pilot program in a dozen states in 2024, Direct File users claimed more than $90 million in refunds and saved an estimated $5.6 million in tax preparation fees. The platform’s success and positive feedback encouraged the IRS to move forward with a rolloutnationwide for the 2025 tax filing season, the release continued.
Starting in 2025, Wisconsinites will be able to file both their state and federal taxes online. After completing their federal returns in Direct File, Wisconsin taxpayers will be taken to WisTax to complete their state taxes quickly and easily for free.
“We are excited about both WisTax and the Direct File program because they provide an improved customer experience for Wisconsin taxpayers that is free, accurate, and user friendly,” DOR Secretary David Casey noted in the release.
The release read: “WisTax offers a modern web-based experience that is intuitive and easy to use, as well as mobile-friendly. This free platform was created to simplify the tax filing process and eliminate the burden of cost. Should taxpayers encounter problems while filing, a knowledgeable DOR customer service representative will be available to answer questions and help troubleshoot the issue. By filing directly with WisTax, taxpayers have an opportunity to share feedback that will help the agency strengthen its program in future years.”
Eligible taxpayers can file using a smartphone, laptop, tablet, or desktop computer. For eligibility requirements and additional information, visit: directfile.irs.gov and revenue.wi.gov, the release advised.
Editor’s note: In response to Facebook comments placed below our publication of the governor’s press release regarding a service allowing Wisconsin taxpayers to file electronically beginning in 2025, Fort Atkinson Online and WhitewaterWise contacted the governor’s office for clarification, asking for more detail about how the service offered will be new or different from services some of our readers claimed were already available.
A response from Jennifer Bacon, communications director with the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, follows: “The average American spends $270 and 13 hours filing their taxes. The goal of the IRS in creating Direct File is to save taxpayers time and money. The new IRS Direct File accomplishes this goal by offering people the option to file their federal tax returns safely and easily for free. In addition to cost savings, there are other benefits of using IRS Direct File for Wisconsin taxpayers. One is the ability to seamlessly transfer their federal tax return data from Direct File to WisTax, Wisconsin’s new free counterpart. This shortens the amount of time that is spent completing forms and simplifies the tax filing process. This feature is not available with other free file options. With Direct File and WisTax, taxpayers are filing directly with the IRS and Wisconsin, which eliminates third party involvement. This increases security and lessons the risk for identity and information theft. Direct File is also an improved customer experience compared to other free file options. User have reported a high degree of satisfaction with 90% of survey respondents ranking their experience with Direct File as ‘Excellent’ or ‘Above Average.’”
File photo/Unsplash.com/Kelly Sikkema.
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