When the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) arrived at the Internal Revenue Service earlier this year, leaders of the group reassured workers that the agency’s free tax filing tool, Direct File, would be spared from cuts. But only a few days after meeting with tax software lobbyists, the beloved tool was placed on the chopping block, multiple sources familiar tell WIRED. The group was organized by Intuit, which produces TurboTax, more than 20 years ago as a means of offering free filing services to lower-income taxpayers. At least two tax preparation companies represented by the American Coalition for Taxpayer Rights, TaxSlayer and TaxHawk, also belong to the Free File Alliance. (By 2021, Intuit and H&R Block left the Free File Alliance.)