Make Tax Season Less Taxing: Filing 101
On Tuesday, April 1, 2025, the Financial Literacy and Wealth Creation Caucus hosted a bipartisan staff briefing, Make Tax Season Less Taxing: Filing 101, to examine barriers to filing, common misconceptions about the filing process, and best uses for tax refunds.
Tax time can elicit different kinds of emotions: I’m too busy. It’s too confusing. It costs too much to file. Taxpayers are estimated to spend 13 hours and $140 each year to fulfill their tax filing obligation. Yet tax time is an excellent opportunity for many working families to add to their savings. A majority of filers will receive a refund, which is often the biggest lump sum that many will see in a year. Great strides have been made to remove barriers to filing taxes. Panelists discussed free tax filing opportunities, access to early returns and how to create savings opportunities. These initiatives aim to equip Americans with the skills and resources they need for economic stability, wealth-building, and prosperity.
The panel discussion was moderated by Lettie Nocera, Director of the American Savings Education Council at the Bipartisan Policy Center. The panel included Meina Banh, Director of Public Affairs at Chime Financial Inc., Nina Olson, Executive Director at the Center for Taxpayer Rights, John Thompson, Vice President of Financial Services at H&R Block, and Mioshi Moses, Vice President of AARP Foundation Tax Aide.
