IRS Direct File was available as a limited public option for some eligible taxpayers with simple returns. The IRS told participating states that Direct File would not be available for the 2026 filing season, while IRS Free File and Free File Fillable Forms remained listed as free filing options. The policy question is whether federal tax filing should include a simple public option, rely on private free-file partnerships, or focus on improving IRS service without the government running filing software. Filing taxes should not feel like shopping for a trap. If the government already has most of the information, people with simple returns ought to have a plain, free path that does not steer them into upsells or paid add-ons.