Ask The California Employment Tax And Payroll Tax Attorney – New IRS Direct File Pilot Program For 2024 Filing Season
By Robert S. Schriebman
2023
Introduction
The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act provided the IRS with long-term funding to improve taxpayer services. It also directed the IRS to study the possibility of a free, direct e-filing program. This program is now operational, and you can use it to file your 2023 income tax return during the 2024 filing season.
The Direct File Pilot Program
Direct File will be a mobile-friendly interview-based service that will work as well on a mobile phone as it does on a laptop, tablet or desktop computer. The service will be available in both English and Spanish. The program does not replace existing filing options such as using tax professionals. Taxpayers participating in the pilot program will have access to help by IRS employees staffing the Direct File Customer Support function. There will also be free technical support and explanations of basic tax law related to the tax scope of Direct File.
Direct File will cover only individual federal income tax returns. The system will not prepare FTB returns. However, once a federal return is completed and filed, Direct File will guide taxpayers who want to file an FTB return.
What Will Direct File Cover?
Direct File will be limited to reporting only certain types of income and claiming limited credits and adjustments, as follows:
Income reporting:
- W-2 wage income
- Social Security and railroad retirement income
- Unemployment compensation
- Interest of $1,500 or less.
Credits:
- Earned Income Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Credit for Other Dependents
Deductions:
- Standard deduction
- Student loan interest
- Educator expenses
For more information see IRS Publication IR-2023-192
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Robert Schriebman has a successful practice in the Rolling Hills Estates area of Los Angeles County serving clients throughout California and the United States. He has successfully dedicated more than 50 years to helping individual taxpayers, business owners, CPAs, Enrolled Agents, and tax attorneys navigate the complicated tax systems of the federal and state governments. Mr. Schriebman is in private practice. He is not affiliated in any way with the EDD, and he is not employed by the EDD or any other agency of the State of California.
Robert Schriebman has written the only 2 books ever published dealing with how California Employment Development Department (EDD) operates. See “California Tax Collection Practice and Procedures” and “California Taxation Practice and Procedure,” both published by Commerce Clearing House.
Robert Schriebman has written over 20 books including the major manual used nationally by practitioners and the IRS, “IRS Tax Collection Procedures – A Manual for Practitioners” published by Commerce Clearing House.
Robert Schriebman has written over 20 books including the major manual used nationally by practitioners and the IRS, “IRS Tax Collection Procedures – A Manual for Practitioners” published by Commerce Clearing House in addition to the only 2 books ever published dealing with how California Employment Development Department (EDD) operates. See “California Tax Collection Practice and Procedures” and “California Taxation Practice and Procedure,” both published by Commerce Clearing House.
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