How IRS Direct File Demystified Tax Forms and Built Trust
This mainstage session from FormFest 2024 featured behind-the-scenes stories about the IRS’ work to turn tax forms from static PDFs into a user friendly digital experience.
The IRS broke new ground by tackling the most universal government form: tax returns. In 2024, it launched Direct File in 12 states, and with 24 states signing on for the upcoming year, it’s quickly gaining momentum. This panel discussion goes behind the scenes to reveal how the IRS turned tax forms from static PDFs into a user-friendly digital experience, powered by a dynamic data structure called the Fact Graph. This panel will explore the technical components of how this work was executed, and the reasoning behind these improvements. By centering thousands of small but purposeful design choices, the team built a system that earned taxpayer trust, with 86 percent of users reporting increased confidence in the IRS. You’ll hear how these innovations streamlined tax filing and transformed customer service to build public trust—unlocking the ultimate power of any well-designed form.
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