January 17, 2025 2:50 a.m.

On Thursday, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden announced that he has secured a commitment from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to continue IRS Direct File this tax filing season in Oregon and 24 other states participating in the agency’s free alternative to paid tax preparation software.

Wyden said, “This is the program that helps people who use it save hundreds of dollars when they file their tax returns”. During the Senate Finance Committee’s confirmation hearing for Bessent, Wyden said, “Its enormously popular among taxpayers. But of course, the tax software giants and their lobby just hate it”.

Wyden, the committee’s ranking member, noted that 30 million American across 25 states will be eligible to use Direct File this year when tax filing season begins on January 27th.

Wyden said Thursday’s commitment is good news for taxpayers in Oregon and nationwide weary of shelling out their hard-earned money to private software companies for what should be a public service, “…free of rip-offs”.

Wyden said, “I’ll keep watch dogging the incoming administration for make sure it keeps this promise this year, and to ensure this valuable free service remains available in future years for taxpayers working hard to make ends meet”.

A video exchange between Wyden and Bessent is linked: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CKYXyrZsrY&ab_channel=RonWyden