This week, AIA highlights a case of particular hubris from three former IRS employees who brazenly seek the revival of the Direct File tool, recently eliminated by President Trump. 

From the start, the tool’s development was mired in controversy. A former IRS employee even revealed that the agency’s Direct File team began developing the platform before receiving official approval—pushing a proof of concept they admitted would “make it hurt” when decision-makers inevitably declined to give Direct File the green light, all in hopes of having “the best shot at success in filing season 2024.” 

Despite what proponents may claim, the Direct File tool—initially rolled out for select states in 2024—was an immensely wasteful effort. Even with millions in funding and nonstop spin from the Biden-Harris administration, fewer than 150,000 taxpayers used it in the most recent filing season. That’s why, since its inception, AIA CEO Chuck Flint has remained a vocal advocate for its elimination: 

“Ultimately, Direct File is a taxpayer-funded IRS expansion that would give unelected bureaucrats more power over your taxes for no reason. This alone is worrisome without even mentioning the cost overruns and lack of transparency issues in Direct File's creation. We support all efforts to end the failed Direct File experiment.” 

AIA is highly encouraged by the dismantling of Direct File and appalled that some still seek a next iteration of the tool. 

Read more here. 

If you, or someone you know, has experienced a specific IRS abuse and wish to flag the instance for potential inclusion in future Abuses of the Week, contact us with the details at the following email: info@irsaccountability.org.