Committee member urges crackdown on predatory tax-preparer schemes, says bill will speed refunds and expand EITC access

A Committee member on the Senate Committee on Finance said the committee is taking "big steps" to reduce inefficiencies in the tax code and to protect working families from predatory paid tax-return preparers. The member said the bill's updates "will help ensure that refunds get out the door on time" and that they will "make it easier for taxpayers to get help during filing season."

The speaker framed the proposal as a bipartisan effort to address what they called a two-tier tax system that advantages the ultra-wealthy who can hire teams of accountants and lawyers. The member said complexity in the tax code "forces millions of Americans to turn to paid tax return preparers every year," and that many of those preparers sometimes file returns late or incorrectly, leaving families exposed to audits and financial harm. "This bill takes important steps to crack down on these shady tax prep schemes that prey on families," the Committee member said.

The speaker emphasized protections for lower-income households, saying the bill reduces financial burdens and will "streamline access so they can get the full earned income tax credit." The remarks thanked Joint Committee on Taxation staff and legislative council analysts — specifically naming Tom Barthold — for assistance translating policy work into bill text. No vote on this bill is recorded in the transcript; the member described it as a major first step and said further work will be necessary to achieve broader tax fairness.