Income tax, state; free tax filing program for individuals.

This legislation directs the state Tax Commissioner to develop and implement a free, direct-to-state electronic filing system for individual income tax returns. By providing a government-run portal, the bill aims to streamline the tax filing process and eliminate the need for Virginians to pay private companies or third-party software vendors to submit their annual returns. For Arlington residents, this initiative could significantly reduce the out-of-pocket costs associated with tax preparation, particularly for low-to-middle-income earners who currently rely on commercial services. By simplifying the process and removing financial barriers, the state expects to improve compliance and ensure that taxpayers can keep more of their earnings, ultimately making the tax filing experience more efficient, accessible, and equitable for all citizens across the Commonwealth.