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MacArthur Asks Trump to Order Online Tax Calculator

JAN. 19, 2018

MacArthur Asks Trump to Order Online Tax Calculator

DATED JAN. 19, 2018
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Congressman MacArthur Leads Letter to President Urging Executive Action
to Make Online Tax Calculator Available

January 19, 2018

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Tom MacArthur urged President Trump to use Executive Action to direct the IRS to make an online tax calculator available by April 1, 2018. Congressman MacArthur introduced legislation in the House of Representatives that directs the same action called the Transparency for Taxpayers Act, but this same tool could be made available more quickly by an Executive Action.

Representatives Rodney Davis (R-IL), John Faso (R-NY), and Tom Garrett (R-VA) joined him in this request to the President and 12 other Members of the House joined MacArthur as original co-sponsors of the Transparency Act.

“We are hopeful the House and Senate will take up the Transparency for Taxpayers Act quickly, but the same action could be taken even more quickly by Executive Action,” said Congressman Tom MacArthur. “I recognize there will be some cost to accomplishing this; however, various outside groups have created online tax calculators in pretty short order. Many of my constituents have relied on these calculators, which include misinformation and innocent mistakes. Taxpayers deserve an honest and simple tool to help them understand what this legislation means for them. This should not be overly burdensome for the IRS and we believe it's worth it.”

Full Letter Text Below


Dear President Trump,

Over the next year, Americans will seek to understand how changes to the tax code affect their bottom line. Change, even positive change, can cause uncertainty, and unfortunately some people in politics and the media are exploiting this uncertainty with misinformation and fear-mongering. We believe we can and should overcome this.

In order to help people understand what the new tax code means for them, we have introduced the Transparency for Taxpayers Act in the House of Representatives. This bill directs the IRS to make an online tool available to individual filers by April 1, 2018 that will enable people to see the impact of the new law at the same time that they file their taxes under the current code.

We are hopeful the House and Senate will take up this bill quickly, but the same action could be taken even more quickly by Executive Action. We would respectfully ask you to direct the IRS to accomplish this by April 1. We have no time to lose.

I recognize there will be some cost to accomplishing this; however, various outside groups have created online tax calculators in pretty short order. Many of my constituents have relied on these calculators, which include misinformation and innocent mistakes. Taxpayers deserve an honest and simple tool to help them understand what this legislation means for them. This should not be overly burdensome for the IRS and we believe it's worth it.

We appreciate your consideration.

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