Press Releases Legislative Alerts Congressional Ratings Heroes and Enemies Maps Email ATR Site Map Search
Home Press National Issues State Issues The Pledge Special Projects Get Active Join Donate
National Press Releases
National Archive
National Pledge Releases
State Press Releases
State Press Release Archive
Stat Press Releases
Editorials and Opinions
The Tax Reformer
ATR in the News
Multimedia
Join ATR
Take Action!
Search ATR
Get Acrobat Reader

National Press Releases
[2007] [2006] [2005] [2004] [2003] [2002] [2001] [2000]

PRESS RELEASE FROM AMERICANS FOR TAX REFORM
 Contact: John Kartch ( jkartch@atr.org or 202-785-0266)

[View Printable Adobe Acrobat File]

10/26/05

Senate Conservatives speak out against Return Free Tax Filing Scheme
Eleven senators sign letter to President’s
panel opposing government-prepared tax returns

WASHINGTON – Eleven members of the United States Senate signed a letter to the President’s Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform opposing a “Return Free” tax filing scheme, in which the government would prepare tax returns and essentially dare taxpayers to challenge the results.

Such a system, the senators pointed out, would create a conflict of interest where the Internal Revenue Service would become both tax preparer and enforcer, and would likely result in errors unchallenged by intimidated taxpayers. However, under a Return Free system, the taxpayer, not the government, would still be personally liable for mistakes.

Many of these same concerns were expressed earlier this month by thirty-eight conservative members of the House of Representatives, and last summer by a broad coalition of conservative groups including Americans for Tax Reform, the American Conservative Union, and the Club for Growth. In all, fourteen national groups signed on.

“Between the House and Senate and the conservative coalition, it should now be clear to the Tax Panel where conservatives stand on this issue,” said taxpayer advocate Grover Norquist. “Return Free is now a universally recognized bad idea.” Norquist testified before the Panel earlier this year in opposition to Return Free.

Signers of the letter included Sens. Jim DeMint (R-SC), John Ensign (R-NV), Rick Santorum (R-PA) and George Allen (R-VA).

###
Americans for Tax Reform is a non-partisan coalition of taxpayers and taxpayer groups who oppose any and all federal and state tax increases.  For more information, or to arrange an interview with Mr. Norquist please contact John Kartch at (202)785-0266 or by email at jkartch@atr.org.