Senator Roger Marshall, US Senator for Kansas | Official U.S. House headshot
Senator Roger Marshall, US Senator for Kansas | Official U.S. House headshot
U.S. Senators Roger Marshall and Marsha Blackburn, along with several colleagues, have introduced the Fostering Autonomy in Independent Returns by Prohibiting Redundant and Extralegal Programs (FAIR PREP) Act. This proposed legislation aims to terminate the Biden-Harris Administration's Internal Revenue Service (IRS) "Direct File" tax filing program, which the lawmakers argue is unauthorized.
Senator Marshall criticized the IRS for spending taxpayer money on a program he claims is already efficiently handled by the private sector. "The IRS—without any authorization from Congress—is spending tens of millions of taxpayer dollars to create and operate a program that already exists in a more efficient form in the private sector," he stated. He emphasized the need to eliminate such programs amidst what he described as a national debt crisis.
Senator Blackburn echoed these sentiments, highlighting concerns about conflicts of interest within the IRS's dual role as both tax preparer and auditor. She remarked, "By taking on the role of both tax preparer and tax auditor, the IRS created an undeniable conflict of interest when it circumvented Congress to establish the Direct File program." She believes this legislation would prevent similar future initiatives without explicit congressional approval.
In addition to Senators Marshall and Blackburn, other co-sponsors include Senators Steve Daines, Thom Tillis, Pete Ricketts, Jim Risch, Shelley Moore Capito, John Barrasso, Eric Schmitt, Bill Hagerty, and Kevin Cramer. The bill also has support from U.S. House Representatives Adrian Smith, Chuck Edwards, Andrew Garbarino, Claudia Tenney, Kevin Hern, Mark Alford, Vern Buchanan, Steve Womack, Beth Van Duyne, and Carol Miller.