WASHINGTON – For taxpayers feeling the pressure of last-minute filing preparations, the Internal Revenue Service has a variety of free tools to help you get your 2024 return completed by the deadline on Tuesday, April 15, or buy you more time to file.
The IRS services range from refund status to tax preparation help; answers to tax law questions; tax law research and more. For those needing last-minute help to file, filing information for individuals as well as businesses and self-employed people is available on IRS.gov.
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For last-minute filers looking for free filing resources, IRS Direct File and IRS Free File remain options for qualified taxpayers.
Direct File is a web-based service that allows taxpayers to file directly with the IRS. The service, available for qualifying taxpayers in 25 states, works on mobile phones, laptops, tablets or desktop computers. Taxpayers can use the eligibility checker to see if they can use IRS Direct File.
If you qualify, Direct File will lead you step-by-step through a series of questions to prepare their federal tax return. The IRS Direct File system then guides them to complete their state tax filings if they have a state tax obligation.
Live chat help is available.
IRS Direct File will remain available through Oct. 15, 2025, so if you aren’t ready to file by April 15, you’ll still be able to use it.
If you’re not ready to file by the deadline, you can use IRS Free File to get an automatic six-month extension to file.
Remember, though, that a filing extension does not extend the April 15 payment deadline. The IRS recommends that people who cannot pay their full balance by the deadline make sure they file a return or an extension request and pay as much as they can.
By paying part of what they owe, taxpayers also can reduce the amount they will pay down the road in interest on the amount still due and late payment penalties.
Those begin for outstanding balances as of April 15. Currently, the interest rate is 7% per year, compounded daily, and the penalty rate is usually 0.5% (one-half of one percent) per month, the IRS said.
Here’s some other tools available online from the IRS:
- For answers to tax law questions, taxpayers can use the Interactive Tax Assistant. Choose a topic, then enter basic information to find an answer.
- Special information is available about tax credits and deductions. Available to individuals and businesses, credits can reduce the amount of tax due while deductions can reduce the amount of taxable income.
- For payment options, visit Payments on IRS.gov.
If you’re expecting a tax refund, once you’ve filed you can track the status of your return by using the Where’s My Refund? tool. If you e-file your return, you can usually see your refund status after about 48 hours.
