Gov. Phil Murphy announced Jan. 28 that a new online tax filing tool – IRS Direct File – is now available to New Jerseyans for the 2025 tax filing season.

“IRS Direct File will ease the strenuous tax filing process and give New Jerseyans an opportunity to save hundreds of dollars this tax season,” said Murphy. “This is a free, convenient online tool for residents to file directly with the government in a secure way they can trust.”

Key features and details of the online tax filing tool include:

• Available to New Jerseyans for the first time
• Offers live chat support while providing taxpayers with a free, easy, and secure way to file their federal and state individual tax returns
• An estimated more than 1 million New Jerseyans will be eligible
• Eligible users had to live in the state for all of 2024, earned all of their 2024 income in New Jersey, and plan to use the same filing status for both their federal and state income tax returns
• Will be available in English and Spanish
• Works on mobile devices, tablets and personal computers

“Direct File is a huge improvement in the way that residents file their taxes, saving them time and tax filing fees,” said Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio. “This resource will make a difference in the lives of New Jerseyans, empowering them to file their taxes themselves – and leading to money saved.”

Last year, the IRS Direct File pilot program launched successfully in 12 states. New Jersey did not participate because of a tech upgrade the state’s systems were undergoing at the time. During that pilot, more than 140,000 taxpayers claimed over $90 million in refunds. They also saved an estimated $5.6 billion in filing costs.

That successful pilot led the IRS to expand the program – offering it to all 50 states beginning this tax filing season. Over the summer, New Jersey announced it would participate in the federal program.

The state notes that as a result of a collaboration between the Treasury Department, the Office of Innovation and Code for America, New Jerseyans will now be able to use an interactive, plain language tool to file their state taxes in addition to their federal taxes.

“New Jerseyans now have a free and accessible website to confidently and securely file their tax returns,” said state Chief Innovation Officer Dave Cole. “We worked with residents and tax experts to design this step-by-step form. Eligible residents who use this tool will be automatically enrolled in money-saving tax credits, like the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit. We thank our partners at the New Jersey Division of Taxation, Code for America, the United States Digital Service, and the Internal Revenue Service for their dedication and hard work in delivering this new service.”

“I commend the Department of Treasury and the Office of Innovation for their partnership in developing this program,” said Murphy.

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