Tax filing season officially begins on Monday, January 26. If you missed the news last year, the IRS has ended its Direct File Service. My home state joined the program in 2025, and while it wasn't the only free option for filing taxes, I can attest it was absolutely the easiest -- especially if your tax situation goes beyond basic W-2 forms. (I was surprised to learn that fewer than 300,000 people used the service last year.)
When it comes to tax season, it's always an annual reminder that where you live does determine how much of your paycheck actually stays in your pocket. While federal taxes apply equally across state lines, state and local taxes can vary, often dramatically, and for residents of the highest-taxed states, the difference can amount to thousands of dollars every year.
