Did DOGE really ‘delete’ the tech division that helped create the IRS Direct File free tax filing service?

CNN — Elon Musk, head of the chaos-causing Department of Government Efficiency, made an assertion this week that raised questions in some people’s minds about the status of the IRS Direct File program. While it remains unclear whether 18F has officially been dissolved by Musk and his DOGE team, it’s also not evident that its shuttering would prevent the IRS from continuing to operate its Direct File program. But there is reason at this time to think that IRS Direct File will remain fully operational this tax season. The biggest reason is that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee last month, said point blank: “I will commit that for this tax season that Direct File will be operative.” Another reason is that the IRS Direct File page appears fully operational.