Tax Filing Simplification Act of 2017

Tax Filing Simplification Act of 2017

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to require the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to establish and operate the following programs free of charge:

• online tax preparation and filing software,
• a program for taxpayers to download third-party provided return information relating to individual income tax returns,
• a program to permit individuals with simplified tax situations to elect to have the IRS prepare their returns, and
• a program to provide technical assistance and federal tax return information for states that provide or seek to provide state-level tax preparation and filing software.

The IRS may not enter into any agreement that restricts its legal right to provide tax return preparation services, software, or tax return filing services. An individual participating in the programs established by this bill must verify their identity to the satisfaction of the IRS.