NAEA Political Action Committee (PAC) Hosts California Congressman Jimmy Gomez
As part of its ongoing advocacy at the federal level, the NAEA PAC hosted a Q&A with Los Angeles-based Congressman Jimmy Gomez, who sits on the important House Ways and Means Committee. CSEA President Susie DiMaggio, EA attended the Q&A session, which gave attendees the opportunity to ask questions related to NAEA’s priorities for the upcoming year.
NAEA Members asked questions on several topics, including the appetite within the White House and Congress to overrule the Loving case and allow the IRS to regulate tax return preparers in a similar fashion to Enrolled Agents, attorneys and CPAs. Rep. Gomez responded that he did believe that there was an appetite on both sides of the aisle to overrule the decision.
The second question dealt with the chronic underfunding of the IRS, and whether tax preparers can expect to see it properly funded under the new Congress. Rep. Gomez noted that a Democratic-controlled Congress is more likely to take up this issue, and cited research that properly funding the IRS is a good return on investment.
NAEA Members also brought up the issue of a loophole in the tax representation marketplace allowing companies that don’t utilize licensed tax preparers to take advantage of taxpayers by promising to fix their debt with the IRS, but not actually performing any services. Rep. Gomez expressed his office’s willingness to work with NAEA going forward to find a legislative solution to this loophole.
Finally, Rep Gomez assured those on the call that another COVID stimulus bill would be passed shortly. He acknowledged that there is also the possibility of a second reconciliation bill, but was unsure about what specific proposals it would include.
As always, CSEA thanks NAEA for their continued work advocating at the federal level for both the EA profession and effective tax administration.