Carper Released the Following Statement on the IRS’ Direct E-File Report to Congress

Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) released the following statement after the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released its report to Congress studying the cost and feasibility of creating a free direct electronic filing program for taxpayers.

“A key objective of the IRS should be to improve the taxpayer experience and make the process of filing income taxes simpler and more efficient for everyday people. Today’s report from the IRS on direct filing confirms that better, more accessible e-filing tools can improve taxpayer compliance, minimize unintentional errors, and help taxpayers claim refunds quickly.

“I am pleased to see that the IRS will be launching a pilot program for a small group of taxpayers by January, when the 2024 filing season begins. As I often say, we need to find what works and do more of that, so I hope that the IRS can learn from this pilot program to implement changes that will help the agency work better for the American people.”

Last month, Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) sent a letter to IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel urging the agency to take action to simplify the tax filing process and expand access to free e-filing options. With recent investments from the Inflation Reduction Act, the agency has the funding to modernize and help restore confidence in the integrity of the U.S. tax system. Read news coverage on the letter here.