The US Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced, on 27 August 2024, that Maine will be the latest state to join the IRS Direct File for Filing Season 2025.
Following a successful Pilot Program in 12 states that saw 140,000 taxpayers claim more than USD 90 million in refunds and save an estimated USD 5.6 million in filing costs using the new free online filing tool, Treasury and the IRS announced the expansion of Direct File as a permanent offering. Treasury and the IRS have been working with interested states to offer Direct File to their taxpayers with Maine becoming the latest state to join, following Oregon, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Connecticut, North Carolina, and Wisconsin. More than 120,000 Mainers will be eligible to use the free online filing tool next Filing Season.
Direct File will be available to Maine taxpayers this next filing season. After using Direct File to file their federal return for free, Maine residents will be connected with Maine Tax Portal to file their state return for free.
Maine Revenue Services will work with the IRS on the goal of integrating Maine Tax Portal and Direct File by 2026 so that taxpayers can quickly and easily complete their state taxes by transferring their federal return information over from Direct File.
The Treasury Department’s goal in the coming years is to expand the reach and tax scope of Direct File to provide an option for working-and middle-class taxpayers nationwide.
