RICHMOND, Va. - Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger has signed legislation to allow residents to file their state taxes online for free.
On Tuesday, March 31, Gov. Spanberger signed SB 591, requiring the state to create its own free electronic tax filing system for residents, with a target launch set for 2028.
The legislation previously passed Virginia’s House and Senate unanimously.
The new law directs Virginia’s Tax Commissioner to develop and offer a state-run online filing program at no cost to individual taxpayers, building off the framework of the federal IRS Direct File system while expanding access beyond its current limits. Under the legislation, the state must design the system to be compatible with federal tools, incorporate modern security standards, and integrate with publicly available source code from the IRS Direct File program as it existed during the 2025 tax season.
Lawmakers also want Virginia’s version to reach more people. The bill requires the state to create eligibility rules that are less restrictive than the federal program, meaning more taxpayers could qualify to file their returns for free rather than paying for private software or services.
State officials will now spend the next several years designing and testing the system, including consulting with other states that have launched similar free filing platforms in recent years. The program must be ready for taxable years beginning January 1, 2028, which means Virginians could begin using it during the 2029 tax filing season.
For many taxpayers, the change could mean fewer fees and a more straightforward filing experience, especially for those with simple returns who currently pay out of pocket to file. Virginia joins a growing number of states looking to reduce the cost and complexity of filing taxes, though the free option is still several years away from becoming available.