One Missing W-9 Can Trigger Two Years of Backup Withholding
September 17, 2026
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Tax Byte
The IRS’s Direct File program is still here, despite some confusion on social media.
On Monday, Elon Musk posted on X that he had “deleted” 18F, a digital services agency within the General Services Administration. 18F helps other government agencies build, buy, and share technology resources—including the IRS Direct File Program.
While Musk’s digital declaration has invited speculation about the future of Direct File, the IRS is currently accepting returns through Direct File. As of Thursday, the 18F website is still live, but its X account has been deleted.
During his January confirmation hearing, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was clear about his intentions regarding Direct File’s immediate future: “I will commit that for this tax season Direct File will be operative.”
For now, the Direct File website remains fully operational. This year, the program has expanded from 12 to 25 states and has facilitated more than $90 million in refunds. As for the future, that’s anyone’s guess—but we’ll keep you updated as details emerge.
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