Rep. Doris Matsui Calls for More Relief on Tax Day
Supports Bill to Simplify the Tax Code
Today, Rep. Doris Matsui (CA-05) joined the majority of her colleagues in passing the Taxpayer Assistance and Simplification Act. This legislation will make the tax-code more user-friendly, and protect American citizens from harassment by private tax collection agencies.
“We know that we are faced with a stubborn Administration that continues to funnel money overseas while Americans are facing very real challenges at home. As the taxpayers file their taxes today, it is a travesty to realize that their hard-earned dollars are going to Iraq, instead of being invested here at home,” said Rep. Matsui.
The bill takes action on behalf of America’s taxpayers. The legislation will stop taxpayer harassment by ending the private collection of federal taxes. Today’s Washington Post reports that this practice costs the IRS $37 million more than it generates. The legislation also strengthens taxpayer protections from identity theft and tax fraud, simplifies cell phone tax reporting and expands tax help for low-income taxpayers.
The Taxpayer Assistance and Simplification Act also includes measures to make the tax code easier to use and understand. Currently, the tax code contains more than seven hundred provisions affecting individuals and more than fifteen hundred affecting businesses – a total of more than 1.4 million words. The bill passed today strengthens IRS outreach and assistance efforts to help ensure taxpayers know they are entitled to tax refunds or to payments under the Earned Income Tax Credit.
The legislation also takes steps to close corporate loopholes and stop federal contractors from using foreign subsidiaries to evade Social Security and other employment taxes which cost American taxpayers almost $100 million a year.
“Today, on Tax Day, the House has passed legislation to make that process less cumbersome. In these uncertain economic times, I will exhaust every avenue to bring relief to the people of Sacramento,” said Rep. Matsui. “It is time to once again focus on our priorities for the American people.”
Rebate checks established by the Economic Stimulus Package passed earlier this year will begin to hit mailboxes in Sacramento in a few short weeks. Those filers that opted to utilize the direct deposit feature will receive their rebate payments first, with paper checks soon to follow.
“In Congress, we took action to put money in the hands of American taxpayers. Now, we must turn our attention to further measures to stabilize our economy by enacting a second stimulus package. I am working with my colleagues to
