OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Senator Warren, Representative Porter Seek Answers from Tax Prep Companies on Millions Spent Lobbying Against Popular, Simple, Free File Option

Press Release

Date: Aug. 25, 2023
Location: Washington, D.C.
Issues: Taxes

"Recent revelations about tax prep companies' abusive tactics, including reckless data sharing and deceptive advertisements, illustrate why this tool is essential for taxpayers, and your organization and its members should not be allowed to undermine the IRS' efforts to better serve taxpayers."

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"Free File's failure is not an accident. Tax prep companies have used deceptive practices and outright lies to push consumers from Free File into paid programs, including deliberately suppressing Free File websites from search results and channeling taxpayers into in-house "freemium' programs that charge for services that would be free under Free File."

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"This outrageous breach of customer trust may have broken federal and state law prohibiting tax preparers from disclosing or using taxpayers' tax return information for purposes other than preparing their return."


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