[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 63 (Thursday, April 19, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E789]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TAXPAYER PROTECTION ACT OF 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. SILVESTRE REYES

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 17, 2007

  Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 
1677, the Taxpayer Protection Act of 2007.
  This bill accomplishes several important objectives. It cracks down 
on websites that attempt to strip unwitting consumers of sensitive 
information by imitating the IRS website. Electronic filing is on the 
rise, which is good for both consumers and the IRS, and we must make 
sure Americans feel comfortable and secure when paying their taxes 
online.
  This legislation would also require the IRS to notify a taxpayer when 
it becomes evident in the course of a tax fraud investigation that he 
or she may have been the victim of identify theft. In the past, when 
presented with evidence of such fraud, the IRS, incredulously, would 
not apprise an individual of the serious situation he or she was 
facing. This must change.
  In addition, the bill would also simplify tax filing requirements for 
businesses owned jointly by a husband and wife and make it easier for a 
married couple to file as a single proprietor of a business rather than 
as a partnership. It increases consumer protections from predatory 
providers of refund anticipation loans, gives taxpayers more time to 
recover property seized improperly by the IRS, and updates federal law 
to stop certain forms of tax fraud.
  Perhaps most importantly, this bill would strengthen our outreach to 
people entitled to cash back on their tax returns under the Earned 
Income Tax Credit (EITC). The EITC is effective because it rewards 
work. The families of Americans who work hard but don't earn a lot 
should not be forced to live in poverty. However, recent evaluations 
have shown that approximately 25 percent of hardworking households 
eligible for the EITC have not claimed it, and billions of dollars in 
targeted tax credits did not end up in the hands of the workers who 
needed them most.
  When hundreds of millions of Americans step up to invest in their 
country by paying their taxes, they must know that Congress is looking 
out for their best interests. By passing this bill, we are doing just 
that.
  I thank my colleagues and urge passing of the bill.

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