May 16, 2023

Heeding Warren’s Call, IRS Unveils Free E-File Program

Washington, D.C. – United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) released the following statement on the decision by the U.S. Department of Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to implement a pilot program to allow Americans to file tax returns digitally and free of charge.

“For years, I urged the IRS to create an easy and free way for Americans to file their taxes. Hardworking families deserve better than to be ripped off by giant tax prep companies, wasting time and money for services that should be free. Thanks to Democrats in Congress passing the Inflation Reduction Act, the IRS is finally taking action and standing up a pilot program for American taxpayers to file their taxes for free next year, with room to grow in the years to come.”

Senator Warren has long fought for a free E-File program to make tax filing simpler and more affordable for millions of Americans: 

  • In April 2023, Senators Warren and Tom Carper (D-Del.) led 29 other senators in a letter to the IRS Commissioner, urging the agency to simplify the tax process and broaden access to free e-filing options.
  • In April 2023, at a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Warren questioned the IRS Commissioner about the agency’s failed Free-File partnership with private tax preparation software companies and called on the agency to implement a direct E-File program. 
  • In December 2022, Senators Warren and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Representatives Katie Porter (D-Calif.) and Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) sent letters to tax preparation companies H&R Block, TaxAct, and TaxSlayer, plus big tech firms Meta, and Google, amid reports that the tax preparation companies have been secretly transmitting individual taxpayers’ sensitive financial information to Meta and Google
  • In August 2022, Senator Warren highlighted key priorities she secured in the Senate’s Inflation Reduction Act, including establishing an IRS task force to look into developing and running an IRS-run free direct E-File tax return system, based on Senator Warren’s Tax Filing Simplification Act. 
  • In July 2022, Senator Warren led 22 lawmakers to introduce the Tax Filing Simplification Act of 2022, legislation that would direct the IRS to develop its own free online tax preparation and filing service that would simplify the tax filing process for millions of Americans 
  • In June 2022, at a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee, Secretary of Treasury Janet Yellen agreed with Senator Warren on the need to create a free tax filing system that actually works for Americans. 
  • In May 2021, Senator Elizabeth Warren introduced the Restoring the IRS Act of 2021, which would provide the IRS with the resources it needs to go after wealthy tax cheats and close the tax gap.

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