NEBRASKA FOR US SLAMS CONGRESSMAN BACON’S OPPOSITION TO DIRECT FILE PROGRAM

Local coalition urges Bacon to stop opposing program that saves taxpayers’ hard-earned money

OMAHA, Nebraska (December 12, 2024)—Today, Nebraska For Us is responding to this week’s decision by Congressman Don Bacon to sign onto a letter from fellow Nebraska Congressman Adrian Smith. With nearly 30 signatures, the letter calls on President-elect Donald Trump to end the IRS’s Direct File program on “day one” through an executive order. This comes in addition to Congressman Bacon cosponsoring legislation this summer to repeal Direct File.

The free tax filing service, launched this year as a pilot program in a dozen states, allows taxpayers to easily file their returns for free while also helping to ensure filers receive all of the proper credits and refunds they are owed.

“It should come as no surprise that Congressman Bacon is siding with large corporations rather than helping working class and middle income taxpayers save hundreds of millions in filing fees and other administrative costs,” Nebraska For Us State Director Angie Lauritsen said. “Nebraskans living paycheck to paycheck should be discouraged by this move as Congressman Bacon once again is looking out for corporations over the working class.”

According to an Economic Security Project study, Direct File would save the average user $160 between filing fees and time spent filing. As a whole, the program could save American taxpayers $11 billion a year. That same study found that the program would allow lower income families to receive an estimated $12 billion per year in additional tax credits that they may otherwise miss out on. Altogether, Nebraskans could save more than $113 million a year from the Direct File program.

“This is just one more troubling move that we hope Congressman Bacon can quickly correct,” Lauritsen said. “As we gear up for next year’s high stakes debate on whether to cut taxes for the ultra-wealthy once again, we will all keep a close eye on if our federal delegation votes to keep giving handouts to those at the top, or cut programs like Direct File that saves the rest of us money. After all, working class and middle income Nebraskans are counting on them to address the rising cost of living.”

In response to a recent Nebraska For Us statement, Congressman Bacon stated he’d like to extend the 2017 tax law that gave massive tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy and corporations while doing little for everyone else. However, Nebraska For Us believes in creating a fairer tax code that passes along new savings to the middle class by making the rich pay their fair share in taxes rather than the House Republican plan to give more tax breaks to corporations and the rich while failing the hardworking Nebraskans who are trying to get ahead.

“Only time will tell if Congressman Bacon stands with the top 0.01% or with the rest of us,” Lauritsen said. “We will continue watching Congress and calling on him to lower costs for working Nebraskans and stop giving tax breaks to those who don’t need them.”