“That group has been deleted.” That’s what Elon Musk posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday with regard to a digital service agency that lists the IRS’ Direct File tool among its projects.
Despite the unambiguous brevity of the comment and the removal of its X profile, it appears that the 18F website and Direct File tool remain active and the latter is reportedly still accepting the filing of online tax returns.
While the world’s richest man may have the power to remove users from his own social media platform, it remains to be seen whether Musk’s appointment to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) extends the disestablishment of its online services.
Musk vs 18F
Musk’s comment came in the form of a repost on X, responding to a post from Alex Lorusso – a self-described ‘American Supremacist’ and ‘Political Strategist’ who was previously a TV producer on the right-leaning Newsmax channel.
In the original post, Lorusso describes 18F as a “far left government wide computer office,” whose Direct File program “puts the government in charge of preparing peoples [sic] tax returns for them.”
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However, a community note under Lorusso’s post provides further context:
“IRS’s Direct File service is a free service that allows people to prepare and e-file their tax returns. Contrary to the post’s claim, the service does not put “the government in charge of preparing peoples tax returns for them.”
The official Direct File website calls the service a “free tax tool to file your federal taxes directly with the IRS.”
18F describes itself as “a team of designers, software engineers, strategists, and product managers within the General Services Administration” that started life within the auspices of the Presidential Innovation Fellows and collaborates with other agencies to “fix technical problems, build products, and improve public service through technology.”
That group has been deleted https://t.co/TICeriaLlA
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 3, 2025
Is Direct File Still Usable?
At the time of writing, both the 18F website and Direct File portal remain online, calling into question the meaning of Musk’s post.
Furthermore, the Associated Press reported on Monday evening that an anonymous individual “with knowledge of the IRS workforce” had told it that the Direct File program was still operational and accepting tax returns.
The free Direct File service was made available to use in all 50 states last year, but its adoption came under fire from private tax preparation companies who stand to lose out.
Cuts to Come?
Direct File may still be available now, but the combination of Musk’s growing influence and the frenetic start to Donald Trump’s second presidency mean that there’s no way of predicting what fate lies ahead for the tax filing tool.
While Musk has admitted DOGE can’t save $2 trillion from the federal budget as hoped, he still thinks there is a “good shot” at cutting half of it. Considering his now-close relationship with Trump, it is easy to imagine a world where he slashes and burns services at a whim.
Meanwhile, Trump has brought an end to remote work for governmental workers and even offered to pay them eight months’ salary to quit their jobs – a move that the White House says could save as much as $100 billion.
