How to file your taxes in Spanish: How the IRS program Direct File works
Tax season has begun. Learn about the new IRS tool to file taxes completely free and in Spanish.
The United States is in the middle of tax season. From January 29 until April 15, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS, for its acronym in English) will receive and process the tax returns of millions of taxpayers. According to the IRS, the agency expects to process 128 million returns this year. According to official estimates from the government agency, about 128 million people are expected to issue their declarations before the deadline.
As the season advances, the IRS has launched a new program, Direct File, available in English and Spanish, to file taxes. Although the IRS already has a free tax filing tool, the Free File, it is only available to those with an annual adjusted income under $79,000. These income limits and not many know that they can use the program, lead only three percent of eligible taxpayers to take advantage of the free filing software each year.
How to access Direct File in Spanish to file your taxes
Unlike Free File, the new Direct File tool is now available to all taxpayers, regardless of their income. However, as it is still a pilot program, it is available only in certain states, including Arizona, California, South Dakota, Florida, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington.
The tool covers individual returns for certain incomes, including Form W-2, Social Security benefits, unemployment compensation, and interest of $1,500 or less. It also allows filers to claim certain credits, such as earned income, for children and other dependents and offers deductions, such as standard, educational expenses, and student loan interest.
Direct File is quite easy to use, with a step-by-step verification process and interactive icons. It also offers live assistance with an IRS customer service representative. Once the user completes their return, they will receive a document summary. They will then be allowed to send their return to the IRS and receive a confirmation email. The user will receive another notification email when the IRS begins processing the return. The new tool is compatible with mobile devices and requires no software installation, making it even more user-friendly. For more information on the tool, visit the questions and answers section of the Direct File.