Gray Rohrer
The U.S. Treasury Department is expanding a program allowing citizens to file taxes online for free to all 50 states, a move that went in the opposite direction called for by Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis.
Patronis was one of 21 financial officials from 18 states who signed a letter in March asking Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Treasury Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo and IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel to shut down the Direct File program.
“IRS Direct file was dead on arrival from the get-go, with low usage numbers and little interest from taxpayers who already use one of the many free services available to them,” Patronis spokesman Devin Galetta wrote in an email.
“The CFO believes that instead of spending millions of taxpayer dollars to roll out direct file, the IRS should be working to streamline the exorbitant tax code so hard-working families and businesses can keep more of their money in their pockets where it belongs.”
Direct File was set up as a pilot program this year available to citizens in 12 states, including Florida. It allows users to file their taxes directly with the federal government, avoiding a tax preparer or online aide, such as TurboTax.
Treasury officials, though, lauded the program, and said it was used by 140,000 taxpayers, who received more than $90 million in refunds while avoiding $5.6 million in filing costs.
“President (Joe) Biden is committed to saving Americans time and money and ensuring families receive the tax benefits they’re owed. Providing a free tool to all Americans who want the option to file directly with the IRS is key to achieving those goals,” Yellen said in a released statement.
“After a successful pilot, we are making Direct File permanent and inviting all 50 states to offer this free filing option to their residents. The Treasury Department and IRS look forward to working with states to expand Direct File for Americans across the country.”
The program will be available to citizens in all 50 states and the District of Columbia starting next year.
Patronis sees it as a move to extract more money out of taxpayers.
“The CFO feels this is just another way for Washington to pry into Floridians wallets and this is exactly why he worked with the legislature to create the Florida Tax Advocate to go to work for Florida taxpayers when the inevitable IRS problems arise,” Galetta wrote.
10 comments
PeterH
May 31, 2024 at 6:07 am
Patronis is being ridiculous!
Tom
May 31, 2024 at 7:21 am
Seems to be his stock in trade. He’s fine with the state getting in everyone’s business but the federal government wants to make filing taxes easier, God forbid. The buffoonery is getting out of hand.
Michael K
May 31, 2024 at 8:09 am
How stupid does he think we are? How much money is Intuit stuffing into his pocket along with the other Florida Republican delegation? Every other developed nation on the planet offers free online tax filing. The US has been trying for years to do this – but Intuit (Turbo Tax) keeps blocking it because they essentially have a monopoly on tax preparation.
Think about it: You should be able to file your taxes for free. I’m not at all concerned about the IRS knowing my tax situation. I’m far more concerned with Intuit knowing the details of my financial life.
Dont Say FLA
May 31, 2024 at 8:47 am
Does Jimmy have his finger in the identity fraud pot and it tastes too delicious to allow taxpayers to, as legally required, file their taxes but do it straight with the IRS without involved data transfers to and from private sector third parties who try the whole way through filing to con evermore money from you and then after you’re done they go and sell all your tax info to whoever’s paying? Dipstick
FLPatriot
May 31, 2024 at 9:30 am
Patronis….Bought and paid for by TaxAct, H&R Block, and TurboTax.
retired state worker
May 31, 2024 at 12:20 pm
Maybe the CFO should concentrate on his job of trying to bring property insurance under control. Under DeSantis rates in Fla have trippled. Sounds like he is a complete failure and should retire. The IRS is a federal program that the CFO has no authority/control over
rick whitaker
May 31, 2024 at 12:23 pm
are florida voters paying attention to this patronis ploy? another chance to point out the actions of a maga cultist mentality.
just sayin
May 31, 2024 at 3:31 pm
Is the check from H&R Block really worth pissing so many people off?
tom palmer
May 31, 2024 at 4:38 pm
Patronis continues to be useless.
CPA
June 1, 2024 at 6:20 pm
I tried the Direct File system and it’s great for simple tax returns with just wages, interest income and simple credits such as EIC and child tax credits. Paid tax prep sofware is such as TurboTax is necessary for relatively complicated tax returns, such as rental real estate and brokerage transactions. Even so, I’d estimate about 50% of taxpayers would be well-served by the Direct File system.
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