Smith Statement on IRS Direct File Expansion

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Congressman Adrian Smith, a senior member of the House Committee on Ways and Means released the following statement after the Internal Revenue Service announced the expansion of its Direct File program for 2025.

“I am disappointed but unfortunately not surprised the Biden administration has again chosen to go it alone in expanding an IRS program without congressional approval or authorization. IRS’s Direct File pilot in 2024 reached fewer Americans than projected while costing far more per user than existing options. The IRS Commissioner needs to work with Congress to ensure the agency has the resources and authority to better serve American taxpayers. This unilateral expansion, which will ultimately further the Biden Administration’s goal of monitoring Americans’ finances at every moment, telling them what tax they owe, and finding every possible reason to audit them, isn’t the way to achieve that.”

Smith, along with Rep. Michelle Steel (R-CA) introduced legislation, “the Family and Small Business Taxpayer Protection Act,” to repeal the Biden Administration’s $80 billion IRS expansion. Smith also led his Ways and Means Committee colleagues in writing to the House Appropriations Committee asking them to defund the Direct File program in FY 2025.