Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE), a senior member of the Committee on Ways and Means, released the following statement after House passage of H.R. 5444, the Taxpayer First Act, and H.R. 5445, the 21st Century IRS Act.
"Today's action is an important first step toward reforming the IRS and updating its antiquated systems and policies. For too long, the IRS has been plagued by inefficiency, poor customer service, and an utter lack of transparency. Just yesterday, on Tax Day, the IRS's e-file system failed, forcing millions of Americans to wonder if they would be able to file their taxes prior to the midnight deadline.
This bill includes measures to prevent fraud and identity theft, update aging computer systems, improve customer service, allow the use of credit and debit cards, reduce fees on low-income families, and provide recourse for tax payers to ensure their fair treatment. The American people deserve an IRS which provides timely and efficient customer service. These improvements are long overdue."