Charles Norwood: “I rise today in support of hardworking Americans everywhere who are being unjustly punished by the IRS. The IRS…”

“I rise today in support of hardworking Americans everywhere who are being unjustly punished by the IRS. The IRS encourages people to file electronically. It saves time, paper, and mailing costs. Many Americans have utilized this service because it means they can get their refunds much faster. Companies that prepare taxes will make refund anticipation loans to people who file electronically. It is a simple way for hardworking people to get money owed them by our Government fast--and these people depend on that refund check. But in steps the IRS. The IRS has begun holding the refunds of those people who are filing electronically for the earned income tax credits. Our information is that the IRS is holding as many as 95 percent of those electronic filers seeking the earned income tax credit, in a supposed effort to cut down on fraud. These are people who do not make a lot of money and need those refund checks to get by. Their refunds are being held up to 2 months. They are unable to get refund loans from tax preparers because of the delay caused by the IRS. The IRS is creating a terrible problem for people who can afford it the least.”