IRS offers Tennessee residents a new tax filing method

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — The tax deadline is April 15, and the IRS is educating filers on a new tool to help with filing.

The IRS says this program is newly available to Tennessee residents.

“There’s a new way to file your taxes direct with the IRS online and for free, it’s called direct file,” said IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel.

The IRS says Direct File is a more efficient and cheaper way to file.

“Tennessee is one of the states that is in our pilot, this is our first year and one million Tennesseans are eligible to use direct file this year,” Werfel said.

Commissioner Werfel says the IRS can help you find out if you qualify.

“For this first year, we are working with mostly simple filers,” Werfel added. “So, if you’re a Tennessean that takes the standard deductions, for example doesn’t have separate businesses or income then you’re most likely going to be eligible.”

Werfel says the IRS wants taxpayers to have options, but also be aware that other options could lead to potential scams.

“You’ll learn the three things the IRS never does. We never demand immediate payment, we never threaten immediate legal action, and we never demand that you pay in a certain way, for example, pay with a prepaid debit card. If someone is reaching out to you via email, text or phone call, suggesting any of these three things, it’s not the IRS. It’s a scam,” Werfel said.

He says if you face a scam, you should avoid it and report it to IRS.gov.