(Alexandria, VA) – The National Taxpayers Union (NTU) today praised Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell for signing House Bill (HB) 1349, a measure Delegate Kathy Byron authored, which establishes the Virginia Free File Alliance. The legislation, modeled after a federal program, will replace a Commonwealth-run entity with a public-private initiative to provide online tax-filing options to moderate- and middle-income Virginians. The Free File Alliance advances the interests of taxpayers while maintaining an important distinction that the government is as a tax collecting – not a tax preparing – institution. NTU has 362,000 members nationwide and more than 9,000 members in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
"Just as NTU actively supported the federal Free File Alliance, we welcome the Governor's and the Assembly's decision to bring an efficient and effective tax-filing approach to the Commonwealth," said NTU Executive Vice President Pete Sepp. "The state will have an opportunity to save money, while Virginians will have an opportunity to save time and trouble. This is precisely how e-government can and should work."
Once fully implemented, the program created by HB 1349 will give Virginians with incomes below $57,000 access to free tax-filing services offered by private tax preparation companies. It will also help streamline the tax filing process for those who already use the IRS's Free File program by linking federal and state tax returns.
NTU sent a letter in March to Governor McDonnell urging his support for the Virginia Free File Alliance. However, NTU has also been involved in this issue on the federal level. A few years ago, NTU strongly supported the federal IRS-Free File Alliance arrangement on policy as well as fiscal grounds. Additionally, NTU has backed internal IRS reforms alongside privately offered services that have made tax filing a smoother process for all parties involved.
NTU is a nonpartisan, nonprofit citizen organization founded in 1969 to work for lower taxes, smaller government, and economic freedom at all levels. Note: NTU's March 15, 2010 letter to Governor McDonnell in support of HB 1349 is available online at www.ntu.org.
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