119-hr-7806119th CongressWALLET

Direct File Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32]

Introduced

Summary

A government-operated online tax preparation and filing program would create a free, interview-style, auto-filled way for people to prepare and submit federal returns using IRS records. The bill would also bar agreements that limit or delay the federal government from offering filing software and would void existing restrictive contracts 30 days after enactment.

Show full summary

Households and taxpayers: Would gain a plain-language, multilingual, mobile-friendly filing tool with automatic data input and integrated support, and could use it even if they are not required to file.
States: Could opt in to provide integrated state filing or qualify as participating if they have no state income tax. Participating States would be eligible for a $1.0 million grant if their state filing meets federal standards, and the program aims for at least 50 percent eligibility among residents in participating States after 2027.
Tax administration and vendors: The bill would prohibit public or private contracts that block the government from offering filing services and would change deadlines for certain information returns. The Secretary would report to Congress by August 31, 2027 and annually on usage, satisfaction, and barriers to use.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Free federal tax filing website

If enacted, the Treasury would create a Federal Government‑owned website to prepare and file individual income tax returns for free. The site would import IRS records at your election, use an interview‑style, user‑tested input process, and work on mobile devices. It would use plain language, multiple languages, meet section 508 accessibility rules, and be promoted widely on TV, radio, and social media. The site would include integrated customer support such as live chat and would allow filing even if you are not required to file that year. For tax years starting after 2027, not less than 50 percent of taxpayers in participating States would be eligible, and the Secretary would expand eligibility as practicable.

State filing, grants, and contract bans

If enacted, taxpayers in States that elect to join could file State or local income tax returns at the same time as their Federal return, subject to tax privacy rules under section 6103. The bill would allow sharing return information with State and local tax agencies for that purpose. States that show their filing functionality meets standards like the Federal program could receive a $1,000,000 grant. The Treasury would be barred from signing new agreements after enactment that prevent it from offering filing services, and any existing agreement that restricts the Secretary would be void 30 days after enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32]

CA • D

Cosponsors

Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]
VA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Hoyer, Steny H. [D-MD-5]
MD • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]
WI • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Aguilar, Pete [D-CA-33]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1]
RI • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12]
NC • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large]
VT • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3]
OH • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]
OR • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7]
IN • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6]
IL • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14]
FL • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20]
FL • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray [D-CA-31]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]
TN • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Conaway, Herbert C. [D-NJ-3]
NJ • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7]
IL • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4]
PA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1]
CO • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3]
CT • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1]
WA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]
PA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3]
OR • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37]
TX • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3]
MD • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6]
LA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7]
TX • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11]
IL • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4]
NC • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22]
FL • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Friedman, Laura [D-CA-30]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10]
FL • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29]
TX • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]
IL • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Gomez, Jimmy [D-CA-34]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9]
TX • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7]
AZ • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]
CT • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Himes, James A. [D-CT-4]
CT • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4]
NV • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]
PA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Ivey, Glenn [D-MD-4]
MD • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]
WA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4]
GA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2]
IL • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]
OH • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2]
WA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]
PA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]
MA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Mannion, John W. [D-NY-22]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large]
DE • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6]
MD • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4]
VA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4]
MN • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. McDonald Rivet, Kristen [D-MI-8]
MI • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]
MA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10]
NJ • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ-8]
NJ • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7]
MD • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
MA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2]
MD • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5]
MN • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6]
NJ • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]
ME • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7]
MA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]
IL • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]
IL • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6]
WA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8]
MD • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6]
OR • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]
PA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]
IL • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8]
WA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3]
VA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Scott, David [D-GA-13]
GA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9]
WA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9]
FL • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1]
NM • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-14]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2]
MS • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
NV • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]
HI • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3]
MA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33]
TX • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
VA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11]
VA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25]
FL • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]
NJ • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]
GA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10]
VA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Mrvan, Frank J. [D-IN-1]
IN • D
Sponsored 4/28/2026
Rep. Morrison, Kelly [D-MN-3]
MN • D
Sponsored 5/14/2026
Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3]
AZ • D
Sponsored 7/22/2026
Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35]
TX • D
Sponsored 8/10/2026
Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24]
FL • D
Sponsored 8/31/2026

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Back to Legislation

Direct File Act of 2026

Summary

How does this bill affect your finances?

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

Medium Impact

Free federal tax filing website

State filing, grants, and contract bans

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Cosponsors

Roll Call Votes

Related Bills

Live Policy Activity

Not In My Barn Yard Act

Other Activity On This Topic

DOL Rewrites Disability Rules for 'Merit-Based Opportunity' Push

How These Connect

Deep Dive

Federal Communications Commission — Communications Regulation

FCC & Telecommunications Regulation

Related Bills

Live Policy Activity

Not In My Barn Yard Act

Other Activity On This Topic

DOL Rewrites Disability Rules for 'Merit-Based Opportunity' Push

How These Connect

Deep Dive

Federal Communications Commission — Communications Regulation

FCC & Telecommunications Regulation

Labor Updates Vietnam Vets' Job Rules After EO Shakeup

Guam Harbor Locks Down for Secret Service VIP Visit

Expressing support for the designation of August 22, 2026, as "Chuck Brown Day", and honoring Chuck Brown's contributions to music and to the District of Columbia.

No Insider Trading on National Security Act of 2026

Crossett Experimental Forest Act of 2026

War Powers Resolution

Iran Sanctions — U.S. Sanctions on the Islamic Republic