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Why you shouldn't pay for tax prep
Did you know that in 23 states, a new government program will let you file your taxes for free? Anne Kim tells you about the government's DirectFile program and about the tax prep industry's efforts to block it.
Links to sources:
Direct File: https://www.irs.gov/filing/irs-direct-file-for-free
GAO Report: https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-25-106933.pdf
ProPublica: https://www.propublica.org/article/inside-turbotax-20-year-fight-to-stop-americans-from-filing-their-taxes-for-free
ProPublica: https://www.propublica.org/article/turbotax-maker-linked-to-grassroots-campaign-against-free-simple-tax-filing
Open Secrets: https://www.opensecrets.org/federal-lobbying/clients/summary?cycle=2023&id=D000026667
Open Secrets: https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/h-r-block/summary?id=D000022016
Open Secrets: https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2023/09/tax-prep-companies-lobbying-against-free-file-face-scrutiny-from-lawmakers/
IBISWorld: https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/industry/tax-preparation-services/1399/
POLITICO: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2024/07/republicans-introduce-bill-to-block-direct-file-00170628
TaxNotes: https://www.taxnotes.com/featured-news/house-republicans-urge-trump-end-direct-file/2024/12/11/7p52w
National Consumer Law Center: https://www.nclc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Rpt_2021_Tax_Time.pdf
H&R Block Annual Report: https://investors.hrblock.com/static-files/21dc5fdd-67e6-4ca2-bee8-3f44c73a3447
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By Anne KimDid you know that in 23 states, a new government program will let you file your taxes for free? Anne Kim tells you about the government's DirectFile program and about the tax prep industry's efforts to block it.
Links to sources:
Direct File: https://www.irs.gov/filing/irs-direct-file-for-free
GAO Report: https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-25-106933.pdf
ProPublica: https://www.propublica.org/article/inside-turbotax-20-year-fight-to-stop-americans-from-filing-their-taxes-for-free
ProPublica: https://www.propublica.org/article/turbotax-maker-linked-to-grassroots-campaign-against-free-simple-tax-filing
Open Secrets: https://www.opensecrets.org/federal-lobbying/clients/summary?cycle=2023&id=D000026667
Open Secrets: https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/h-r-block/summary?id=D000022016
Open Secrets: https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2023/09/tax-prep-companies-lobbying-against-free-file-face-scrutiny-from-lawmakers/
IBISWorld: https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/industry/tax-preparation-services/1399/
POLITICO: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2024/07/republicans-introduce-bill-to-block-direct-file-00170628
TaxNotes: https://www.taxnotes.com/featured-news/house-republicans-urge-trump-end-direct-file/2024/12/11/7p52w
National Consumer Law Center: https://www.nclc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Rpt_2021_Tax_Time.pdf
H&R Block Annual Report: https://investors.hrblock.com/static-files/21dc5fdd-67e6-4ca2-bee8-3f44c73a3447