Just to add some context, there is right now two similarly named systems:
E-file: which is essentially just an api end point for accepting digitized tax returns and is what all the major (paid) tax software uses.
Direct file: a web based version of the 1040 irs forms which will, when filled out, submit the forms electronically.
=== Edit: there are actually three, the third is Free Fillable Forms, which is what I'm actually talking about here ===
Note that when I say "version of the forms" I mean that quite literally. The interface is as close as html can come to looking like a printed 1040 form and about 1 tiny step up from filling out a pdf version.
The forms will occasionally do math for you: some of the fields are marked as the sum of a set of fields and those will automatically do the addition for you, but that's the limit of the automation.
For example, to compute your actual owed taxes you need a percentage to multiply by your taxable income, and that number is found by looking through a roughly 10 page table that maps income ranges in brackets of $50 to a specific number (so 0-50 is one number, 50-100 is another, and so on up to several hundred thousand).
To get this number for the form you, of course, must open the help documentation in a separate tab and scan through it looking for your bracket.
My understanding as to why it works this way is that the irs is basically doing as much as they're legally allowed to. The irs is, as far as i know, forbidden by law, from developing any kind of software that helps you file taxes (or more accurately, competes with turbotax) and this web-form doesn't quite count as breaking that law.
I'll note in passing, that as a general rule "both sides" tend to take turbotax money to hobble the irs, this specific direct file was championed and funded by democrats, opposed by republicans and the republican president trump is trying to delete it.
When you have your solution(s), sign in to your Free File Fillable Forms account at https://www.freefilefillableforms.com Fix your error(s) and resubmit your return.
Be sure to re-enter the direct debit date (if used) and the e-file date in the Step 2 tab of Free File Fillable Forms.
If you are unable to resolve the error(s), you can mail your tax return and your payment by April 18, 2023 to avoid penalties and interest.
Here is your error(s):
Issue : Business Rule X0000-005 - The XML data has failed schema validation. cvc-pattern-valid. Value `` is not facet-valid with respect to pattern `[0-9]{9}` for type `EINType`.
The following information may help you determine the form at issue:
Field/Xpath: /efile:Return[1]/efile:ReturnData[1]/efile:IRSW2[2]/efile:EmployerEIN[1]
Issue : Business Rule IND-031-04 - `PrimaryPriorYearPIN` or `PrimaryPriorYearAGIAmt` in the Return Header must match the e-File database. If you are unable to provide a valid `PrimaryPriorYearPIN` or `PrimaryPriorYearAGIAmt`, then you may instead provide an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) to electronically file your return. An IP PIN may not be used if you are filing Form 9465 standalone. If you wish to get an IP PIN and you don`t already have an account on IRS.gov, then you must register to validate your identity. Please visit www.irs.gov/getanippin for further information and resubmit your return.
The following information may help you determine the form at issue:
Field/Xpath: /efile:Return/efile:ReturnHeader/efile:Filer/efile:PrimarySSN
Got a bit of a kick out of it. Feels weird to see inside the "implementation layer" of sorts for the IRS, of all things.
You used Free Fillable Forms, not Direct File. Direct File is a web application piloted in 2024 with a larger release this past year. The URL is https://directfile.irs.gov/
I believe what you're referring to is Free File Fillable Forms. Direct File is a separate, newer, modernized service which is much closer to cloud-based commercial tax software (but with a bunch of eligibility restrictions at the moment).
Direct File's initial rollout was only available in a relatively small subset of states. Not sure why (since it handles federal returns) but there were reasons, I am sure.
Additionally, as a final turd on the manure cake that is free fileable forms, if you watch your web requests you find out it is some sort of Intiut product. Or at least it goes through Intuit servers.
Honestly I don't even really mind the FFF, however byzantine, the forms are the native interface to declaring taxes. It just really bothers me that the IRS, the government organization that has one job, to receive taxes, has a primary interface that routes me through a company I am trying to avoid.
It is a large reason I am still filing paper forms in this internet connected age. Until the IRS gets it's online act togther it is still the most ergonomic option.
E-file: which is essentially just an api end point for accepting digitized tax returns and is what all the major (paid) tax software uses.
Direct file: a web based version of the 1040 irs forms which will, when filled out, submit the forms electronically.
=== Edit: there are actually three, the third is Free Fillable Forms, which is what I'm actually talking about here ===
Note that when I say "version of the forms" I mean that quite literally. The interface is as close as html can come to looking like a printed 1040 form and about 1 tiny step up from filling out a pdf version.
The forms will occasionally do math for you: some of the fields are marked as the sum of a set of fields and those will automatically do the addition for you, but that's the limit of the automation.
For example, to compute your actual owed taxes you need a percentage to multiply by your taxable income, and that number is found by looking through a roughly 10 page table that maps income ranges in brackets of $50 to a specific number (so 0-50 is one number, 50-100 is another, and so on up to several hundred thousand).
To get this number for the form you, of course, must open the help documentation in a separate tab and scan through it looking for your bracket.
My understanding as to why it works this way is that the irs is basically doing as much as they're legally allowed to. The irs is, as far as i know, forbidden by law, from developing any kind of software that helps you file taxes (or more accurately, competes with turbotax) and this web-form doesn't quite count as breaking that law.
I'll note in passing, that as a general rule "both sides" tend to take turbotax money to hobble the irs, this specific direct file was championed and funded by democrats, opposed by republicans and the republican president trump is trying to delete it.