Tax Reform

Burdensome taxes continue to plague hard-working Americans. Our tax code is too complex, costly and time-consuming. It is estimated that individuals and businesses spend about 6.1 billion hours a year complying with the filing requirements of the tax code. We can all agree that we need real reform that makes the tax code simpler and lowers taxes on all Americans and families.

We must be mindful that reform cannot hurt the creation of new jobs, home ownership, opportunities for churches and community organizations to benefit from charitable deductions, or the ability of municipalities to access credit to address local infrastructure needs. Americans want a simpler and fairer tax code that lowers the tax burden on middle class families and doesn’t give tax breaks to special interests and big business. Our current tax code hurts business’ ability to grow and create new middle class jobs. It is so complex that it is estimated to be longer than all the Harry Potter book series combined. Americans spend over $168 billion just to comply with the current code with over half of Americans hiring outside help to sort through the confusion. Coupled with the fact that Americans will spend more money on food, clothing and housing combined, the tax code is placing an unnecessary burden on American families and the economy. That is why I support cutting taxes for working Americans and the businesses that hire them. Lower taxes mean more money for businesses to expand and create jobs and more money in the pockets of Americans to spend as they see fit.

Our deficits have exploded and our debt has grown out of control, not because taxpayers do not pay enough but because Washington spends too much. I will continue to fight for Washington to gain control and cut federal spending.  Washington’s reckless spending with your tax dollars needs to stop. American families have to live within their means.  The federal government should as well.

Estate Tax

Estate taxes are an unfair assault on the hard work and investment of small business owners and family farmers across the country. Taxing the same assets for a third or fourth time is exactly what makes our current tax code so harmful to economic growth.

I have consistently supported efforts to permanently repeal the estate tax.  In the 113th Congress, I have co-sponsored both H.R. 483 Farmers Against Crippling Taxes and H.R. 147 Death Tax Repeal Act.  I also co-sponsored H.R. 1259, the Death Tax Repeal Permanency Act of 2011 in the 112th Congress.

To bolster economic recovery, we must do more to make life more affordable, and encourage people to make the investments in their businesses that will get our economy moving again. Federal estate or “death” taxes challenges the very foundation of the American dream and it’s an absolute tragedy that many Illinois farmers and small business owners are forced to liquidate assets or sell the business completely just to cover the burden of estate tax costs. Small businesses are the engine of our economy. Entrepreneurship and ingenuity should not be penalized.

Permanent Internet Freedom Act

The internet has become an essential tool in our daily lives—from accessing educational resources, applying for jobs, sharing ideas and running businesses to communicating with families and friends. Taxing internet access—the on-ramp to the web—would set a dangerous precedent and would be harmful to economic growth, hindering the numerous innovations already spurred by affordable access to internet.

I am proud to co-sponsor H.R. 3086, the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act, a bill that would permanently extend the Internet Tax Freedom Act, preventing state and local governments from taxing access to internet services.

Resources Available for Filing Your Taxes

(Click the picture for information on free tax resources)