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Boston's Morning Newsletter
How to find out if you're eligible to use the IRS's new free tax filing service
Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from WBUR's daily morning newsletter, WBUR Today. If you like what you read and want it in your inbox, sign up here.
TGIF! The rain should taper off this morning, though you may want keep an umbrella on you if you’re headed to Southie’s St. Patrick’s Day parade Sunday. Before you go stock up on Guinness and Irish soda bread, here’s what to know today:
One month until tax day: After weeks of limited testing, the IRS is expanding its free online tax filing pilot Direct File in 12 states, including Massachusetts. An estimated 850,000 Bay Staters are eligible to use the new tool this spring (ahead of its potential expansion in the coming years). As a bonus, Massachusetts is also one of just four states that have connected its state tax filing system to DirectFile, meaning you can file both your federal and state taxes all in one fell swoop. The pilot program is still limited for now. But if you’ve been procrastinating doing your taxes and don’t want to fork up money for private tax prep software, it might be a good option:
- Am I eligible? This seven-step tool can check. If you’re a simple filer and lived all of last year in Massachusetts, the answer could be yes. That means your job gave you a W2 form or your income came from unemployment or Social Security, and you earned less than $1,500 in interest. DirectFile also only accepts users who take the standard deductions and claim certain credits (like the child and earned income tax credit).
- Who’s not eligible? Like taxes, this can get complicated. But a few common disqualifiers include making more than $200,000 (or over $250,000 for married couples), gig jobs, pension or retirement account income, being a landlord, withdrawing money from a health savings account and healthcare.gov marketplace plans.
- Why it matters: For two decades, the IRS has worked with tax prep companies like TurboTax to offer free tax filing for those under a certain income limit ($79,000 for 2023). However, that program was dramatically underutilized and even deceptively advertised. Ancel Tejada, a program manager at the nonprofit MASSCAP, told WBUR’s John Bender that DirectFile expands access to free tax filing to higher earners and should make the process a better customer experience. “That’s going to be a very big benefit to the taxpayers in Massachusetts,” Tejada said.
Oh boy: Rhode Island officials confirmed yesterday the closed westbound side of the Washington Bridge on I-195 — a key gateway between Providence and the South Coast of Massachusetts — will need to be fully demolished and rebuilt. The project will likely take at least two years, with an expected reopening date between March and September of 2026. (The newer, eastbound side of the bridge will continue squeezing in both directions of traffic in the meantime.)
- Go deeper: WPRI has full coverage of yesterday’s announcement, what led to the abrupt closure in December and what’s next.
A powerful Holocaust exhibit opens today at the Castle at Park Plaza in Boston. “Auschwitz. Not Long Ago. Not Far Away.” includes 700 artifacts, many of which have never been seen outside of Poland, according to producer Luis Ferreiro. Boston is expected to be the only stop on the East Coast during the international exhibit’s 14-city tour. WBUR’s Arielle Gray has a preview of the exhibit here.
- Plan your visit: The exhibit will run through Sept. 2. Individual adult tickets for timed entry are $34.95.
On Beacon Hill: The Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed its ambitious child care bill yesterday, aiming to lower costs for families and shore up the workforce. Read more here about how it would work and what the increased family subsidies would mean.
- The big question: Does the House take up the Senate’s bill (or propose something else)? House Speaker Ron Mariano has called child care a priority this session, but so far the lower chamber hasn’t moved on the issue. There are four and a half months until the end of the legislative session to get something done.
Don’t go chasing waterfalls: At least not Massachusetts’ highest waterfall. State officials announced yesterday they have closed Bash Bish Falls State Park — located in the state’s southwest corner — until June so workers can renovate the observation area.
P.S.— A new innovation is being tested out by military personnel on Cape Cod. Do you know what it is? Then take our Boston News Quiz and test your knowledge of this week’s stories.
