On cspan, online at cspan. Org and listen live on the free cspan radio app. The commissioner of the irs testified before the Senate Finance committee on the impact of the coronavirus on the 2020 taxis and including efforts season including efforts to help taxpayers and Small Business. This is just over two hours. [gavel] sen. Grassley commissioner rettig, thank you for agreeing to testify on 2020 tax Filing Season and the irs handling of challenges that are posed because of the pandemic. The 2020 Filing Season got off to its typical start at the end of january. However since then, this Filing Season has been anything but typical. As a result of the National Health emergency stemming from the ongoing pandemic, almost all regular tax filing and tax payment deadlines have been extended. This includes the individual and Corporate Income tax filings and payment deadlines which were pushed back from the normal april 15 to july 15. There is some rumors it might be extended again. I dont know.
Filing season and the irss. Andling of challenges at the 2020 Filing Season got off to a typical start. Since then, this Filing Season as been anything but typical a result of the National Health emergency stemming from the ongoing pandemic. Almost all regular tax filing and tax payment deadlines have been extended. This includes the individual and Corporate Income tax filings and payment deadlines, which were pushed back from the normal april 15 to july 15. There are some rumors they might be extended again. I dont know. I have heard that at least once. Extendedhese deadlines, the tax Filing Season continues with many taxpayers still filing taxes as usual to get their tax refund. At the same time, consistent with the Government Shutdown orders and cdc guidance, the irs limited much of its work to essential services, closed a number of facilities, and instituted telework policies where practical. Shortstaffed irs during the busiest time of the year. Understandably, that meant to taxpay
Commissioner rettig, thank you for agreeing to testify on 2020 tax Filing Season and the irs handling of challenges that are posed because of the pandemic. 2020 Filing Season got off to its typical start at the end of january. However since then, this Filing Season has been anything but typical. This includes the individual and Corporate Income tax filings and payment deadlines which were pushed back from the normal april 15 to july 15. There is some rumors it might be extended again. I dont know. I have heard that at least once. Despite these extended dialogue deadlines, the tax Filing Season continued with money still filing taxes as usual asy still filing taxes usual. At the same time consistent with Government Shutdown orders and cdc guidance, the irs limited much of its work to essential services, closed a number of facilities and instituted telework policies where practical. Shortstaffed irs during the busiest time of the year. That meant taxpayers experience longer wait times to
Coronavirus outbreak. Basically, officials go out and trace down everybody who has had a contact with the covid19 positive patient. Now, apple and google say they are looking at smart phone apps that could help as a tool. On friday apple and google announced that they are working together on software that would turn smart phones into Contact Tracing devices by using bluetooth technology. Google released a diagram showing how it works. If two people are within bluetooth range, their phones would record an anonymous identifier code that would be stored for 14 days. If one person gets sick, Public Health official would be able to use an app that would alert the list of devices that were in close proximity. Its really important that the apps have important privacy safeguards. The electronic interior foundation says that while the idea can help with Contact Tracing, there are concerns about security and how long data is stored. He says Tech Companies need to be transparent and make it optio
The hearing is two hours and 20 minutes. Chair Wyden Finance Committee will come to order. Today the Committee Meets to discuss tax Filing Season, which closed yesterday. I think thank commissioner werfel for being here at a busy time for everybody in the agency. There are lots of issues to discuss, and one that certainly is important to the American People is direct file. Anyone who denies that the direct file was a huge success, my guess is just living in another universe. It is open to a fairly small percentage of taxpayers, but the reviews it got from its initial users were overwhelmingly positive. It seems like a whole lot of people were very stunned that a federal agency, particularly one as frequently vilified as the irs, was able to build a helpful website that works. Tens of thousands of taxpayers who use direct file this year collectively save millions on fees that they wouldve paid to one of the tax software giants. Website is userfriendly. It is quick and easy to use and di