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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.
Laws and regulations should strengthen and enhance consumer protection. Policymakers should enhance protections against unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices.
Federal legislation should provide a minimum level of consumer protections. It should preserve states’ ability to provide additional protections to consumers.
Regulators should ensure robust consumer protections in the financial marketplace. They should provide effective oversight of the financial industry.
Congress should ensure that the CFPB is a strong and independent consumer protection regulator. This includes maintaining CFPB’s existing independent funding.
Policymakers and financial institutions should protect consumers with diminished capacity and others at risk of financial exploitation.