MENG ANNOUNCES NEW IRS DIRECT FILING PILOT PROGRAM

QUEENS, NY – Ahead of Tax Day on April 15, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) announced a new pilot program that allows eligible taxpayers in Queens and across New York City to file their federal income taxes directly with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for free online.

The Direct File pilot program is now available in New York and 11 other states including Arizona, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. The online tool walks taxpayers through the filing process while they enter their tax information manually. New Yorkers who need to file state taxes can be connected with the state’s online filing tool through the Direct File program.

“Tax Day is approaching quickly on April 15 and many in Queens and throughout New York are looking for reliable, free filing services,” said Congresswoman Meng. “The new Direct File pilot program, introduced by the IRS, makes online filing easy, accessible and secure, all at no cost. I encourage all eligible taxpayers in Queens and across New York to take advantage of this new federal service.”

In order to be eligible for the Direct File pilot program, you must be a U.S. citizen or resident alien. Additionally, you must have one of more of the following types of income:

• W-2 income
• SSA-1099 Social Security benefits
• 1099-G unemployment compensation
• 1099-INT interest income $1,500 or less

Take any of the following deductions:

• Standard deduction
• Educator expense deduction
• Student loan interest deduction

Qualify for the following tax credits:

• Earned Income Tax Credit
• Child Tax Credit
• Credit for other dependents

Once your return is submitted through the Direct File pilot program, the IRS will notify you if your return was accepted or rejected. If you are getting a refund, visit www.irs.gov/refundsto check the status 24 hours after the IRS accepts your return. If you owe a tax balance, Direct File allows you to make a payment online.

The Direct File pilot program is open 24/7 for eligible taxpayers. It works on smartphones, laptops, tablets and desktop computers. Live online support is available via chat Monday through Friday 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET. Customer services representatives can offer technical support and answer basic tax law questions in English and Spanish. Get started by visiting:www.directfile.irs.gov.

Tax Day is Monday, April 15, 2024, and the IRS is currently accepting returns. Taxpayers who require an extension must submit a request by April 15and file their taxes by October 15, 2024.