Senators Marshall, Blackburn and Colleagues Introduce Bill to Dismantle Unlawful IRS Direct File Program

Washington, D.C. –U.S. Senators Roger Marshall, M.D., Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Steve Daines (R-MT), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Jim Risch (R-ID), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV.), and U.S. House Representatives Adrian Smith (R-NE) and Chuck Edwards (R-NC) introduced the Fostering Autonomy in Independent Returns by Prohibiting Redundant and Extralegal Programs (FAIR PREP) Act.

This legislation would end the Biden-Harris Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) blatant overreach by terminating its unauthorized “Direct File” tax filing program. By further barring the agency from unlawfully preparing taxpayer returns without congressional approval, the bill would establish crucial safeguards to prevent future attempts to sidestep Congress.

“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,” said Senator Marshall. “As our nation faces a crippling national debt crisis, it’s imperative we end wasteful, costly, and redundant programs like The Direct File initiative.”

“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,” said Senator Blackburn. “This legislation would right this wrong by stopping the IRS from preparing tax returns without explicit legislative approval and ending this wasteful and misguided program.” 

This legislation is also co-sponsored by Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) and Representatives Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.),Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.), Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), Mark Alford (R-Mo.), Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.), Steve Womack (R-Ark.), Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas), and Carol Miller (R-W.Va.).