this post was submitted on 10 Jun 2025
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346
IRS tax filing software released to the people as free software (www.fsf.org)
submitted 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) by Pro@programming.dev to c/technology@lemmy.world
11 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Last week, the IRS published the majority of Direct File's source code to GitHub, with one of the people who worked on Direct File noting that "establishing trust with taxpayers was core to our approach for designing and building Direct File." IRS Direct File, commonly referred to as Direct File, is a tax-filing program offered by the IRS that allows US taxpayers to prepare and electronically file federal income tax returns at no cost. The majority of Direct File's source code getting uploaded to GitHub is a step forward for free software, both because of Direct File's scale and what it represents: that there is still a lot of power in collective action. It will protect the work of its developers regardless of whether Direct File will be offered for the 2025 tax season.

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[–] catloaf@lemm.ee 5 points 3 days ago (2 children)

It's definitely not guaranteed to be accurate to the law. In fact, I'm surprised there isn't a disclaimer to that effect on the GitHub project page. Maybe it's because they're the government and if you true to sue over an error, they can tell you to go pound sand.

[–] Khanzarate@lemmy.world 14 points 3 days ago

Well the IRS says it is accurate.

It doesn't say accurate to what standard but I think its pretty clear that "tax law" is the default here.

[–] LilB0kChoy@midwest.social 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Did the government claim it was accurate to the law? I'm guessing just providing code doesn't open the government to liability. That would fall on anyone who implemented it. I always assumed that's why for-cost software has Ts&Cs that indemnify them unless you pay extra for the protection.

[–] jlh@lemmy.jlh.name 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

From the license:

Unless expressly stated otherwise, the person who associated a work with this deed makes no warranties about the work, and disclaims liability for all uses of the work, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

[–] LilB0kChoy@midwest.social 2 points 3 days ago

Yeah, I'd say that would cover them pretty well. Also, happy cake day!