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User fees should directly relate to the services received. They should not unfairly burden people with low incomes or unduly limit access to public services.
Congress should increase funding for the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) and Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) programs. Funding should reflect the increased population of older Americans.
Public assets should not be sold to raise revenue if the sale would sacrifice resources that serve important national and regional purposes.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the states should increase support for taxpayer assistance programs such as the Tax Counseling for the Elderly and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program
The IRS and state revenue departments should increase their efforts to make tax forms—including electronic forms, publications, and correspondence—more accessible and understandable.
The government should simplify the recovery of money withheld each year and reduce the need for older individuals who do not owe income tax to file tax returns.
The IRS should continue encouraging taxpayers to file electronically but maintain the option of paper filing without penalty.
Enforcement measures should be applied equitably across income classes and types of taxpayers.
The IRS should increase its audit rate and raise penalties for noncompliance.
The federal government should require state CSBG and SSBG officials to consult with state and local agencies and organizations representing older people and other groups served by the programs.
Policymakers should streamline and coordinate application procedures among different public-benefit programs.