The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) administers the Child Tax Credit, which helps families with children lessen their tax burden. In 2025, the IRS announced significant modifications to its tax aid programs, such as the expansion of the Child Tax Credit and the free Direct File tool.
These reforms aim to provide millions of taxpayers more access to credits and deductions, allowing them to earn larger refunds while paying less in taxes. The IRS has announced that more than 30 million taxpayers would be eligible to use Direct File, its free tax filing program, for the 2025 tax season. This initiative allows taxpayers to file their taxes conveniently and at no additional expense, and it has been significantly expanded.
Child Tax Credit: Expansion of the IRS Direct File Program
Direct File will be available in 24 states by 2025, up from 12 in 2024. With this extension, the government anticipates that Americans will save millions of dollars in tax preparation costs.
The IRS developed Direct Prepare, a software application that allows taxpayers to prepare basic tax returns containing wages (W-2 income), Social Security income, or unemployment payments. During the 2024 test season, over 140,000 people utilized it to file their returns, with the process taking less than one hour on average.
In addition to expanding the number of states where Direct File is accessible, the IRS has improved it by providing more tax credit and deduction possibilities. For the 2025 season, customers can now claim the Child and Dependent Care Credit, the Credit for the Elderly or Disabled, and the Premium Tax Credit.
Additionally, deductions for Health Savings Accounts (HSA), educator expenditures, and student loan interest will be allowed. These modifications are intended to ensure that more taxpayers can take advantage of Direct File and all of the tax benefits to which they are entitled.
Who qualifies for the Child Tax Credit and other deductions?
The Child Tax Credit is intended to provide tax assistance to families, thereby offsetting some of the costs involved with having children. With the extension of Direct File to more states and the provision of new credits and deductions, more households will be able to take advantage of this benefit without having to pay for tax preparation.
It’s worth noting that taxpayers who itemize their deductions, such as those with medical expenditures that exceed 7.5% of their adjusted gross income, major charity contributions, or considerable property tax payments, will not be able to use Direct File yet. However, the IRS has stated that its long-term goal is to continue expanding the program to include more typical tax scenarios, particularly those affecting working families.
Improving customer service for Direct File
The IRS has also announced improvements in customer service for Direct File users. In 2025, taxpayers will be able to use a live chat function that will provide real-time assistance in both English and Spanish.
The process of authentication and verification will also be improved, allowing customer care agents to provide more extensive assistance with specific tax questions. If necessary, taxpayers can request a callback for technical assistance or to answer fundamental tax-related questions.
