Op-ed: Don’t empower a bureaucratic IRS
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There has been a lot of pork-barrel spending coming out of Washington these days. Whether it's $3 million for bee-friendly highways or $284,000 for an urban trail restoration project, Congress is spending money on a whole host of questionable pet projects that simply prove just how out of touch they are. Americans are frustrated with their government focusing on things that aren't top priorities for the average American worker and their family.
Adding to this endless stream of bad ideas is a proposal being pushed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, (D-Mass.), that would dramatically increase the size and scope of the Internal Revenue Service. Under this new proposal, the IRS would both prepare and file tax returns on behalf of all American taxpayers. Unlike most bills that die before being considered, the previous Congress allocated $15 million to study how practical this overhaul would be.
$3 million for bee-friendly highways or even $15 million for a study is a drop in the bucket compared to the astronomical costs of an IRS-run tax preparation system. A February 2022 study from Govini compared the costs for a potential IRS-run free filing system with the costs of Healthcare.gov, noting that "the complete package of development, support, and sustainment requirements would rival, if not surpass, those needed to develop and administer the federal health insurance exchange at Healthcare.gov, which has cost the federal government $21.2 billion in the 11 years since its inception."
I've worked in construction and helped manage two family businesses. I know how tax season is a stressful time. Many taxpayers may think an IRS-run system would be practical. But a simple examination of the IRS' track record puts these notions to bed.
The IRS has had multiple successive years of millions of backlogged tax returns. This means families and small businesses must wait months to receive refund and deduction checks. This is money that many depend on.
The IRS received more than 73 million calls to the agency's helpline from concerned taxpayers last year. But only 10% of those calls ever reached an actual IRS representative. People are busy enough worrying about taking care of their kids, making ends meet or simply just living their lives. If this proposal were to become law, the percentage of calls reaching a representative would plummet even lower--making life that much harder for people who are just trying to get by.
The IRS is mandated to collect taxes and maximize revenue for the federal government. But acting as both tax preparer and tax collector is an inherent conflict of interest. In effect, this proposal would mean that the IRS would not be motivated to actively seek ways to maximize every available tax credit and deduction that hardworking West Virginians are entitled to.
Sen. Joe Manchin should listen to the 73% of his constituents who oppose an IRS-run tax preparation system.
If he hopes to win re-election in a state that feels so strongly about this particular issue, Manchin must stand up against this disastrous proposal and prevent a bureaucratic nightmare from becoming a painful reality.
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Scot Heckert is a Republican member of the West Virginia House of Delegates (13th District).