Code for America, State of Maryland to Offer Free State Tax e-Filing Program in 2025

Annapolis, MD – Today, Code for America and the Maryland Comptroller’s Office announced a new partnership that will enable residents of Maryland to file their federal and state income taxes online for free starting in January 2025.

Maryland is the ninth new state to announce plans to allow its residents to file taxes through IRS Direct File—a new free tax-filing tool that allows taxpayers to submit a federal tax return electronically—starting in 2025. The state’s collaboration with Code for America will make FileYourStateTaxes, the leading civic tech nonprofit organization’s integrated state tax filing tool, available to Direct File taxpayers in Maryland. The partnership will allow Direct File users in the state to also seamlessly and easily file state returns for free. 

“Today, we take a big step forward to make tax season easier, simpler, and more affordable for all Marylanders,” said Maryland Governor Wes Moore. “I want to thank the Biden-Harris Administration, Code for America, and our state, federal, and community partners for their support. This program has saved Americans millions of dollars in tax filing fees, and it’s going to deliver big results for the people of Maryland. We will continue to move in partnership, we will continue to find solutions, and we will leave no one behind.”

“Code for America is committed to ensuring taxpayers across Maryland have access to free, easy online state tax filing,” said Amanda Renteria, CEO of Code for America. “Through our FileYourStateTaxes tool, more people will be able to file a return and gain access to tax benefits that help working families. We look forward to applying the mindful use of technology to the tax filing process and providing this revolutionary service to taxpayers alongside our partners in Maryland.”

The Direct File program, launched by the IRS as a 12-state pilot in early 2024, enables taxpayers to file their federal income tax returns directly with the government. During the pilot, four states built companion state tax filing tools that allowed Direct File users to seamlessly file their state returns. Code for America  successfully partnered with two of these states—Arizona and New York— during the 2024 tax filing season. 

In May, the IRS announced that it would make the Direct File program permanent following positive user feedback. Subsequently, Code for America announced plans to support Direct File’s expansion by bringing FileYourStateTaxes to additional states in 2025. Maryland is the second new state partnership Code for America has announced for filing season 2025 after announcing a partnership with North Carolina last month. Code for America will partner with Maryland’s Office of the Comptroller to develop a Maryland-specific edition of FileYourStateTaxes that will allow taxpayers to import their Direct File data and easily file a Maryland state tax return.

“Partnering with the IRS to offer Direct File to eligible Maryland taxpayers in the 2025 tax season is an exciting opportunity and fundamental to our core priority of modernizing our agency to make government work better for all Marylanders,” said Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman. “In countries across the globe, residents enjoy much simpler return-free tax systems. While our state and nation are not there yet, with Direct File and our agency’s new Maryland Tax Connect system for individuals coming this term, Maryland will have the most transparent, efficient, and modern system in the nation.”

Code for America has already seen strong support for Direct File in conversations with state tax departments across the nation. Additional states interested in potential future partnerships should reach out to Code for America at fileyourstatetaxes@codeforamerica.org.

About Code for America

 Code for America is the leading civic tech nonprofit that works with community leaders and governments to build equitable, accessible digital tools and services. Founded as a non-profit in 2009, Code for America believes that government can work for the people, and by the people, in the new digital age. We work with government at all levels across the country to make the delivery of public services equitable with technology. We work with community organizations and governments to build digital tools, change policies, and improve programs. Our goal: a resilient government that effectively and equitably serves everyone.