Have you filed your taxes yet?

Have you filed your taxes yet?

For many working Americans, a small tax refund can help with monthly expenses like rent and groceries, or mean that it’s possible to put a little bit of money away to save for retirement. An unexpected tax bill can mean crisis.

Because the process for filing taxes is complicated, a lot of people turn to for-profit tax preparers for assistance. Unfortunately, that’s not always a positive experience.

We need to make it harder for unscrupulous tax preparers to prey on at-risk families.

Although most tax preparers are honest, some take advantage of people who are trying to navigate a complex system. Tax filers shouldn’t have to worry that they’re being misled or overcharged for services, which is why I’m working to make the for-profit tax preparation industry more fair and transparent.

I introduced the Tax Refund Protection Act to protect consumers from deceptive practices. Tax preparers should have to fully disclose preparation fees and the timeline in which filers will receive their refunds.

I learned exactly how important consumer protection laws are when I started my career as a consumer protection attorney at the Federal Trade Commission. In Congress, I’m continuing to be a voice for consumers and fighting back against fraud.