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John,
In the last 10 days, nearly 14,000 people have signed-on as grassroots co-sponsors of Elizabeth Warren’s new bill. And we’ve sent more than 16,000 letters to Congress urging them to become original co-sponsors.
Together, we’re demanding Congress act to make it free and easy to file your taxes. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars on tax filing services and hours of your time, the Tax Filing Simplification Act would allow the IRS to simply send you a pre-filled tax form based on information they already have. You’d confirm the information and send it back. It’s that easy!
In fact a new report out this week finds that nearly one-half of tax returns could be “accurately pre-populated.” That's up to 73 million returns that would be completely ready to go without taxpayer's having to input information. The study also found that more than 4 out of 10 of taxpayers who could take advantage of these pre-populated returns are paying to have their taxes done now.[1]
Free filing has already been implemented in most other countries in the world. But, because corporations like Intuit and H&R Block have brokered a deal with the IRS that’s good for them and lousy for us, they’ve effectively blocked implementation of a free filing system that would benefit working families.
Fight back against corporate greed and help build support for Elizabeth Warren’s new bill. Pitch in $5 today!
While the IRS is legally allowed to provide no-fee filing options, they don’t. This is because companies like Intuit and H&R Block have spent millions of dollars lobbying the government to effectively block the IRS from providing a free tax filing program.
As a result, tax filing has become a billion-dollar industry with the average American spending $200 and 11 hours of our own time filing our taxes each year.[2]
Not only that, these corporations are ripping off low-income taxpayers. Just this week Intuit, the maker of TurboTax, in a legal settlement agreed to pay back $141 million to more than four million customers who were unfairly charged for tax services that were falsely advertised as free.[3]
Thankfully, Senator Warren and Representative Brad Sherman (D-CA) are preparing to introduce the Tax Filing Simplification Act this month! But, before they introduce their bills they want to get a solid group of co-sponsors on the legislation. They’ve asked for our help.
Donate today to build massive support in Congress and across the country for Elizabeth Warren’s new bill.
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Their new bill would greatly simplify the tax filing system, reduce our reliance on paid tax preparers, and increase access to critical benefits like the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit, which many people don’t realize they qualify for.
Together, we’re demanding Congress put the needs of working people ahead of greedy corporations.
Thank you,
Frank Clemente
Executive Director
Americans for Tax Fairness Action Fund
[1] “The IRS could auto-fill nearly half of taxpayers returns, according to a new paper — meaning they wouldn't have to spend time and money filing their taxes,” Insider, May 2, 2022
[2] “1040 (and 1040-SR) Instructions, Tax Year 2021,z’ Internal Revenue Service
[3] “Intuit Will Refund $141 Million to Low-Income TurboTax Users,” New York Times, May 4, 2022
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