The IRS is rolling out its free tax-filing tool to 30 million Americans—and surprisingly, it’s great

With Direct File, the U.S. government built a free tax tool that stands up to traffic pressure and receives high marks from users.

Some 30 million Americans across the country will have a new way to file their taxes next spring: Direct File, a tool developed by the Internal Revenue Service that allows users to prepare their taxes and file online completely free of charge and without the need for any third-party provider. The tool is the first time the federal government has given taxpayers a way to file directly, and could usher in a sea change for how Americans approach Tax Day.