Warren Promoted Free IRS Tax-Filing Program but Used Private Accountant

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., did not use the free government tax-filing system she promoted for years when it launched in her state, records show.

Warren pushed for a free IRS online tax preparation and filing service as early as 2016, a step toward what became Direct File. She described it as a way for taxpayers to save time and money. For the 2024 tax-filing season, Direct File ran a pilot in Massachusetts, but Warren's public tax return showed she hired a private accountant.

Warren could not use Direct File that year because she skipped the standard deduction, a program limit that critics said made it unsuitable for many taxpayers.

"The Direct File pilot program has been a huge win for taxpayers," Warren said in April 2024. "This year, thousands of taxpayers saved hours of their time and the $150 typically spent on TurboTax and other junk filing fees — money that could be spent on groceries or rent … I’m excited to continue to work with the IRS and the Treasury Department to permanently extend and expand this free and easy tax filing solution for Americans."

Warren has called herself a key creator of Direct File.

"For years, Senator Warren has been the Direct File program’s biggest champion — yet her own tax returns show she hired a private accountant," David Williams, president of the Taxpayer Protection Alliance, told Fox News Digital. The group leans right on fiscal issues.

"Direct File was ill-equipped to handle investment, property and interest income — limiting the tax credits and deductions Americans deserve. At its core, the government would not have any incentive — as the tax preparer, collector, and auditor — to maximize those deductions," he added.

The Trump administration suspended Direct File in 2025. The IRS later notified states it would not run for the 2026 filing season.

Warren kept supporting the program even after her 2024 return revealed her choice of a private accountant. On April 15, 2026 — Tax Day — she brought a new bill to the Senate floor to bring it back.

"Filing your taxes should be easy and free … Let’s save people time and money, and show the American people that government can work for them," Warren said.

Direct File saw low uptake in 2024, with 161,042 of about 19 million eligible Americans filing through it, per an IRS report.

Of those users, 90 percent called their experience "excellent" or "above average," the IRS said. Most found it easy to use with strong customer service.

The Taxpayer Protection Alliance claimed 25 percent of users had negative experiences, based on its review of responses from a Freedom of Information Act request.

Conservative economist Stephen Moore has said the IRS preparing taxes raises conflicts since it collects revenue. The program is not free when counting costs, he argued. Groups like Public Citizen, which leans left, say it could save billions in fees for little public cost.

Intuit and H&R Block lobbied hard against Direct File, fearing profit losses.

Warren’s office did not respond to requests for comment on Monday.