<div>                        Kelly Opening Statement at a Hearing with the National Taxpayer Advocate on the IRS Filing Season  <table><tr><td>March 7, 2019 - PRESS RELEASE</td><td colspan="3"><a href="https://waysandmeansforms.house.gov/components/redirect/r.aspx?ID=487177-3215566">Rob Damschen</a></td><td>(202) 226-4774</td><td> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td colspan="2"><a href="https://waysandmeansforms.house.gov/components/redirect/r.aspx?ID=487178-3215566">Jesse Solis</a></td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td colspan="2"> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td style="background-color: #0000FF"> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr></table>   WASHINGTON, D.C. – The top Republican on the House Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee Mike Kelly (R-PA) delivered the following opening statement at a Subcommittee Hearing with the National Taxpayer Advocate on the IRS Filing Season. Before the start of today’s hearing, Rep. Kelly and Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX), the top Republican on the Committee, sent a <a href="https://waysandmeansforms.house.gov/components/redirect/r.aspx?ID=487179-3215566">letter </a>to Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal (D-MA) and Oversight Subcommittee Chairman John Lewis (D-GA). <a href="https://waysandmeansforms.house.gov/components/redirect/r.aspx?ID=487180-3215566">CLICK HERE </a>to read the full letter. <a href="https://waysandmeansforms.house.gov/components/redirect/r.aspx?ID=487181-3215566">CLICK HERE </a>to watch the hearing. Remarks as prepared for delivery: <div class="indented">"Thank you, Mr. Chairman for holding this hearing today.</div>  <div class="indented">"First off, I’d like to thank you Ms. Olson for your dedicated years of service to taxpayers. I know that I speak for all members of this</div>  <div class="indented">Committee as well as our constituents when I say that the IRS better serves taxpayers because of your work and the work of the Taxpayer Advocate Service.</div> <div class="indented">"Under your leadership, the Taxpayer Advocate Service has helped countless taxpayers in our districts get the information and service they deserve from the IRS.</div> <div class="indented">"You’ve also brought issues and problems affecting taxpayers to the attention of Congress, which we greatly appreciate.</div> <div class="indented">"I look forward to continuing to work with you through the end of your tenure as well as with Secretary Mnuchin to ensure a seamless transition for the Taxpayer Advocate Service.</div> <div class="indented">"I’d also like to take a minute to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their dedicated work during the last Congress on a bipartisan bill to restructure the IRS.</div> <div class="indented">"The bill, known as the Taxpayer First Act, put the focus of the IRS back on customer service – on serving taxpayers.</div> <div class="indented">"It included over 50 provisions, which represented the largest restructure of the IRS since the IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998.</div> <div class="indented">"Due to the tireless work of Chairman Lewis, then-Chairman Lynn Jenkins, and their staffs, we were able to craft a bill that passed the House three times with broad bipartisan support.</div> <div class="indented">"This bill included a number of commonsense provisions that would help make the IRS a customer- service focused agency, putting an emphasis on treating taxpayers with respect and providing them with the service they deserve.</div> <div class="indented">"To make sure the IRS is indeed customer focused, the bill required the agency to develop a customer service strategy. It also allowed the IRS to present a plan to Congress on how best to reorganize itself to carry out its mission of serving taxpayers.</div> <div class="indented">"The bill also protected the IRS’s low-income taxpayer clinics, which are vital for those who cannot afford to hire a tax professional and made permanent the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Matching Grants program, which guarantees underserved populations access to quality tax preparers.</div>  <div class="indented">"Finally, the bill also took important and long overdue steps to modernize the IRS’s IT infrastructure, putting in much needed safeguards to ensure</div>  <div class="indented">that taxpayer dollars don’t continue to be wasted on poorly planned and executed projects.</div> <div class="indented">"With one of the oldest IT infrastructures in the federal government, it is essential that the IRS overcome challenges to IT modernization, many of which are not solely the result of budget limitations.</div> <div class="indented">"As we move forward during this Congress, I strongly urge that we make redesigning the IRS a priority.</div> <div class="indented">"We’ve proven we’re able to work in a bipartisan manner on this issue and Mr. Chairman, I’m committed to working with you on this to see it over the finish line.</div> <div class="indented">"The IRS’s ability to serve taxpayers comes into focus every year around this time.</div> <div class="indented">"It’s especially true as the IRS and Treasury Department continue to implement the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.</div> <div class="indented">"Through their hard work, the IRS and Treasury have updated countless IRS forms and released a number of very important pieces of guidance and regulations in preparation for the 2019 filing season.</div> <div class="indented">"All of this work has helped taxpayers adjust to the new tax landscape.</div> <div class="indented">"Of particular importance, is the revised Form 1040, which simplified filing taxes for many by reducing the number of lines taxpayers have to complete.</div> <div class="indented">"The IRS estimates that only 25 million taxpayers used the simpler 1040 form in 2017, known as the 1040-EZ.</div> <div class="indented">"In contrast, this year nearly 47 million taxpayers will be able to complete the new postcard 1040, according to estimates from Ms. Olson’s office.</div> <div class="indented">"The IRS and Treasury also took prompt action to update the 2018 withholding tables to account for the increase in the standard deduction, elimination of personal exemptions, and reductions in tax rates as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.</div> <div class="indented">"The revisions to the withholding tables aimed to improve the accuracy of withholding so taxpayers keep their hard earned money instead having the government hold on to it, interest free, until it’s returned to them in the form of a refund.</div>  <div class="indented">"Early filing season statistics show that the average refund amount this year is in line with last year, having even increased slightly.</div> <div class="indented">"Thus far, the IRS appears to be delivering the 2019 filing season as normal.</div> <div class="indented">"I look forward to hearing from our witness today, Ms. Olson. Based on her experiences working with taxpayers firsthand to address their needs, I look forward to hearing her insights on the filing season and on what the Committee should consider as we seek to refocus the IRS on customer service."</div> ###</div>

Rep. Mike Kelly Calls for IRS Redesign

Rep. Mike Kelly Calls for IRS Redesign

U.S. House of Representatives

U.S. House Ways and Means Committee

U.S. House Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee

In an opening statement at a House Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee hearing on the tax filing season, ranking minority member Mike Kelly, R-Pa., said redesigning the IRS should be a priority during the 116th Congress, citing the bipartisan progress made on the Taxpayer First Act last year.

In an opening statement at a House Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee hearing on the tax filing season, ranking minority member Mike Kelly, R-Pa., said redesigning the IRS should be a priority during the 116th Congress, citing the bipartisan progress made on the Taxpayer First Act last year.

In an opening statement at a House Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee hearing on the tax filing season, ranking minority member Mike Kelly, R-Pa., said redesigning the IRS should be a priority during the 116th Congress, citing the bipartisan progress made on the <a href="/lr/resolve/-/28q43" title=" ">Taxpayer First Act</a> last year.

In an opening statement at a House Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee hearing on the tax filing season, ranking minority member Mike Kelly, R-Pa., said redesigning the IRS should be a priority during the 116th Congress, citing the bipartisan progress made on the Taxpayer First Act last year.