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This bill — the Tax Filing Simplification Act of 2019 — would aim to simplify and decrease the costs of the tax filing process for millions of American taxpayers. It would require that a free, online tax preparation and filing toolbe made available to tax filers, permit filers to download third-party-provided return information, and allow individuals with simple returns to let the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) prepare their taxes for them.

Under this bill, the IRS would be required to provide establish and operate the following programs for free:

Online tax preparation and filing software;
A program for taxpayers to download third-party provided return information relating to individual income tax returns;
A program to permit individuals with simplified tax situations to elect to have the IRS prepare their returns; and
A program to provide technical assistance and federal tax return information for states that provide or seek to provide state-level tax preparation and filing software.

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Since the current Free File program is used by only 3% of taxpayers, it’s clear that a better free alternative is needed.","argument_against":"The IRS, in partnership with the major tax preparation companies, already has a Free File program that allows taxpayers making $62,000 or less a year to file their taxes for free. 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Won’t listen to slogans, chanted mantras or generally any kind of marketing spin or “rebranding” crap. I firmly believe that everyone else is entitled to their erroneous opinions. Citizen vigilance and due diligence is price we must pay to live in a thriving, functional democracy.\nI fear that our citizens are too easily swayed by politician’s pablum about “babies”, “jobs” and now, in particular, perceived “enemies”. I fear that a citizenry focused on the “here-and-now” is easily tricked by short term benefits that have negative long-term consequences. I fear that our legislators are more concerned about buffing their constituents than looking out for the long-term welfare of our country- and are way too eager to provide those short-term benefits to the “here-and-now” crowd.\nI fear that honor is generally being sacrificed/replaced by expediency. I hear politicians eloquently argue for one side of an issue and later, when it’s to their benefit, just as eloquently argue for the opposite side. OK, so they are good at arguing- but what is that they actually believe? What is it that they actually stand for? An honorable person has values that persist even when it is not convenient or expedient. An honorable person has a moral compass that stops them from doing something wrong even if it is not illegal. 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Should the IRS Provide Taxpayers With a Pre-Filled Tax Return?