A bipartisan bill – H.R. 4938 – co-introduced by U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL) on Thursday would permanently reauthorize the IRS Free File program that has been in place since 2003.
Through the Free File program, more than 100 million taxpayers have received free online assistance with tax preparation and electronic filing services.
“The free file program gives low- and middle-income families access to cutting-edge software technology and cybersecurity protections that only the private sector can provide, at no cost to them or the federal government,” Roskam said. “It’s a common-sense solution to help millions of Americans navigate our cumbersome and confusing tax code.”
Under the Free File program, 13 private sector companies working under the Free File Alliance partner with the IRS to provide commercial tax preparation software to eligible taxpayers. The platforms are free of marketing, cross-selling and tax refund anticipation loans.
U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI), who co-introduced the bill with Roskam, said the Free File program provides families with an “easy option” for completing and filing taxes.
“By working together to offer free online tax preparation, we have saved taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars since 2003,” Kind said. “By making this program permanent, we can help hardworking families and save taxpayer money.”
The Free File program has saved low- and middle-income taxpayers an estimated $1.1 billion on tax preparation expenses and has been replicated in 20 states.
A bipartisan group of more than 60 congressmen joined Roskam and Kind as original cosponsors of H.R. 4938.