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Maryland
Maryland makes filing taxes online free for some
More than 700,000 Marylanders should be able to file their state and federal income tax returns online for free next year, saving residents hours of work and hundreds of dollars on tax software and prep services.
Maryland joined dozens of states Wednesday in a voluntary federal program called Direct File after a test run received positive reviews and showed possible cost savings. Filing paper returns by mail will still be an option.
“It’s unacceptable that Marylanders should have to pay any portion whatsoever of their refund or paycheck to fulfill a mandatory requirement like filing tax returns,” Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman said at a news conference in Annapolis.
The first-term Democrat called the program a game changer for Maryland taxpayers that will modernize her agency. It targets low-to-moderate earners with relatively simple tax returns, and is expected to expand over time.
Lierman’s office will partner with the nonprofit Code for America to integrate the Maryland tax filing system into Direct File. Eligibility requirements will be announced in January, the comptroller’s office said.
Gov. Wes Moore, State Treasurer Dereck E. Davis, members of Maryland’s congressional delegation, U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo and nonprofit partners joined Lierman for the announcement.
Funds from the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 helped build and test the system. The IRS and Treasury Department then invited states to participate.
The IRS has been considering a free e-filing option for low-income American taxpayers for decades, according to the Congressional Research Service. When tax prep companies pushed back, the federal government agreed not to compete with them if they provided free help and e-filing to low-earning taxpayers.
However, many qualified taxpayers were pushed toward paid services, according to an investigation by nonprofit news outlet ProPublica.
The IRS piloted Direct File in 12 states this year. Filers used a laptop, tablet, cellphone or other device to submit income returns and request certain tax credits offered to low-earning individuals and families.
In a survey, nine out of 10 Direct File users ranked their experience as “Excellent” or “Above Average.”
U.S. Rep Steny Hoyer, a Democrat representing Maryland’s 5th District, called paying taxes the “price of our democracy.”
“We ought to make it as easy as possible for people to comply with a legal obligation that they have to support their country, their state and their communities,” he said. “And this system of Direct File does that.”
Robin McKinney, CEO and co-founder of CASH Campaign of Maryland, said easy, free online filing makes the government work more efficiently for citizens and should deliver refunds and credits to taxpayers faster.
McKinney’s nonprofit promotes economic advancement for low- to moderate-income Marylanders and provides free tax help, among other services.
Economic Security Project, a nonprofit that advocates for guaranteed income and economic equity for working families, found that adopting Direct File could mean $355 million in costs and time saved for Maryland’s low- to moderate-earners.
Maryland recently has expanded tax credits for working families, but about $152 million goes unclaimed each year, according to the Security Project’s analysis.
They also estimated that about $148 million could be saved in filing fees and $56 million could be saved in time spent filing taxes.
That money could have gone into Marylanders’ pockets, CASH Campaign’s McKinney said, and it could have gone back into the state’s economy.
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As paleontologist Stephen Godfrey walked into the Calvert Marine Museum one morning in April, staff members congratulated him. In a way, he brought an extinct species back to life.
Two days earlier, in the final hours of Maryland’s legislative session, lawmakers passed a bill that made megalodon — the largest shark that ever lived — the state shark.
Godfrey, the marine museum’s curator of paleontology, helped come up with the idea and testified at the State House in support of it. Now, Maryland is the first to have a state shark, he said.
“As long as people have been here in Maryland, they have been noticing and collecting megalodon teeth,” he said.
Fossils of the prehistoric shark can be found throughout the Chesapeake Bay region.
“It was a prime place for early paleontologists in American history to come to collect fossils, to document the succession of life,” said Godfrey, who grew up in Quebec, Canada. He has been interested in natural history since he was young and turned his childhood bedroom into a museum.
“Hey, why don’t we try to make it the state shark?” Godfrey recalled asking.
Students join in effort to honor the mighty megalodon
He checked whether any other state had beat them to the idea. He found that North Carolina designated the megalodon tooth as its state fossil — but not its state shark.
“It was like, ‘Wow, this is like a golden opportunity,’ ” he said. “I’m surprised that nobody has thought of this.”
So he reached out to Marianne Harms, a former member of the marine museum’s board who had helped get it recognized as the state’s paleontology center. She connected him with Sen. Jack Bailey, R-Calvert and St. Mary’s.
“We just started working on it last summer when I took Stephen in to meet Sen. Bailey, and it is a difficult process to have something named as a state entity,” Harms said.
Bailey introduced the bill in the Senate, and Del. Todd Morgan, R-Calvert and St. Mary’s, introduced it in the House.
Godfrey testified in support of the bill twice, bringing along his daughter, Zoey, who is in third grade.
Calvert County officials and members of the public also wrote letters of support. Representatives of the Natural History Society of Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation sent in written testimony favoring the bill.
Fourth-grade teacher Anna Shay also shared letters and pictures from her students.
“The megalodon shark is strong and brave so people will think we are also strong and brave,” one student wrote.
Megalodon encounters resistence in Maryland legislature
It faced some pushback from AMndy Ellis, a Green Party candidate for governor, who wanted to designate megalodon as the state historic shark to leave room for a living one to have that designation.
At one point, the bill stalled in the General Assembly. But on the last day of the session, it was tacked on as an amendment to a bill recognizing a state natural sciences museum and Oct. 1 as a day to honor victims and survivors of domestic violence. It passed through both chambers and is on its way to the governor’s desk.
“I can’t believe this actually happened,” said Godfrey, adding that he thought the bill had died.
“To me, it’s like, just one of the super fun things that I’ve been a part of.”
College Democrats protest ‘white advocacy’ speech at Salisbury University
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Maryland State Police are seeking the public’s assistance in helping to locate a missing juvenile in Wicomico County.
Chester Fitchett III, 14, was reported missing on May 5. He was last seen at about 3 p.m., in the 200 block of Baptist Street in Salisbury, Maryland.
He is described as an African-American male with black curly hair and brown eyes, approximately 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighing approximately 120 pounds. He was last seen wearing a royal blue “Nike Tech” jacket, blue jeans, and white/black Nike sneakers. Investigators believe he may be in the area of Smith Street in Salisbury.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Maryland State Police Salisbury Barrack at 410-749-3101. The investigation remains active and ongoing.
Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win
Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The Maryland Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at May 6, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from May 6 drawing
18-27-51-65-68, Powerball: 05, Power Play: 3
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from May 6 drawing
Midday: 0-9-2
Evening: 9-8-6
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from May 6 drawing
Midday: 6-4-6-5
Evening: 7-5-4-5
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 5 numbers from May 6 drawing
Midday: 6-6-1-9-1
Evening: 3-0-2-8-5
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from May 6 drawing
9 a.m.: 13
1 p.m.: 05
6 p.m.: 05
11 p.m.: 11
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Bonus Match 5 numbers from May 6 drawing
13-21-22-31-33, Bonus: 02
Check Bonus Match 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from May 6 drawing
04-21-36-48-69, Powerball: 05
Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.
Keno
Drawings are held every four minutes. Check winning numbers here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
Maryland Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes above $600, winners can claim by mail or in person from the Maryland Lottery office, an Expanded Cashing Authority Program location or cashiers’ windows at Maryland casinos. Prizes over $5,000 must be claimed in person.
Claiming by Mail
Sign your winning ticket and complete a claim form. Include a photocopy of a valid government-issued ID and a copy of a document that shows proof of your Social Security number or Federal Tax ID number. Mail these to:
Maryland Lottery Customer Resource Center
1800 Washington Boulevard
Suite 330
Baltimore, MD 21230
For prizes over $600, bring your signed ticket, a government-issued photo ID, and proof of your Social Security or Federal Tax ID number to Maryland Lottery headquarters, 1800 Washington Boulevard, Baltimore, MD. Claims are by appointment only, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This location handles all prize amounts, including prizes over $5,000.
Winning Tickets Worth $25,000 or Less
Maryland Lottery headquarters and select Maryland casinos can redeem winning tickets valued up to $25,000. Note that casinos cannot cash prizes over $600 for non-resident and resident aliens (tax ID beginning with “9”). You must be at least 21 years of age to enter a Maryland casino. Locations include:
- Horseshoe Casino: 1525 Russell Street, Baltimore, MD
- MGM National Harbor: 101 MGM National Avenue, Oxon Hill, MD
- Live! Casino: 7002 Arundel Mills Circle, Hanover, MD
- Ocean Downs Casino: 10218 Racetrack Road, Berlin, MD
- Hollywood Casino: 1201 Chesapeake Overlook Parkway, Perryville, MD
- Rocky Gap Casino: 16701 Lakeview Road NE, Flintstone, MD
Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Maryland Lottery.
When are the Maryland Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 11 p.m. ET Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 5 Midday: 12:27 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, 12:28 p.m. ET Saturday and Sunday.
- Pick 3, 4 and 5 Evening: 7:56 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday, 8:10 p.m. ET on Sunday.
- Cash4Life: 9 p.m. ET daily.
- Cash Pop: 9 a.m., 1 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. daily.
- Bonus Match 5: 7:56 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday, 8:10 p.m. ET on Sunday.
- MultiMatch: 7:56 p.m. Monday and Thursday.
- Powerball Double Play: 11 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Maryland editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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