You may qualify to file your taxes for free in Wisconsin—here’s how

An estimated 830,000 Wisconsin residents will be eligible to use the IRS Direct File program to file their taxes this year. 

Wisconsinites have some good news this tax season—the state is participating in the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) Direct File Program, which allows qualified residents to file their taxes for free.

The new program was made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act signed in 2022. This year, it will be available in 25 states and has been expanded to include more types of income, deductions, and credits. 

An estimated 830,000 WI residents will be eligible to use Direct File this year. 

The Direct File Program may be a good option if a person:

• Lived in Wisconsin for all of 2024
• Earned all of your income in Wisconsin in 2024
• Aren’t using the filing status Married Filing Separately

The program may not be a good option for people who are planning to claim any of the following credits on their state taxes:

• Credits on Schedule CR
• Farmland Preservation Credits
• Repayment Credit

Residents can use Direct File if they are reporting income using these forms: W-2, 1099-G, SSA-1099, 1099-SA, and 1099-INT, as well as income from an Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend. 

Direct File isn’t available for people who have unreported cash income or are using other forms to report income, like a 1099-NEC for independent work. It also only works with people taking the standard deduction, not itemized deductions. 

Anyone interested in using the program can check their eligibility here.

Wisconsinites who have an Adjusted Gross Income of $84,000 or less may also qualify to use the IRS Free File program, which directs people to “trusted” third-party softwares that offer free federal, and sometimes state, returns. 

To learn more about filing requirements in WI, click here. You’ll be directed to the state’s free filing tool, WisTax, to complete your state tax return once you submit your federal tax return.