Sam Gibbons: “about 10 days ago, millions of American families made their annual trip to the post office to mail their Federal income…”

“about 10 days ago, millions of American families made their annual trip to the post office to mail their Federal income tax returns. The IRS estimates that 65.8 million Form 1040 filers spend an average of 13 hours and 1 minute getting that return together; nearly two full working days. That time could be much better spent with their families, and would not American families that spend millions of dollars on professional tax preparers, tax accountants and computer software be better off spending that money elsewhere? Perhaps on their family, their retirement, or investing in their children's education. Unfortunately, working Americans have become slaves to the IRS. It is time to give these American families their freedom. Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support meaningful tax relief as part of this year's and next year's national budget, and I yield back the valuable time and money spent this year by hard-working Americans not on their families but on preparing and filing tax forms.”