”Masquerading It as Aid for Israel Is Perfect”: Republicans Want To Charge You More for Filing Taxes in Order to Fund War in Gaza

Michelle HollandNov 2, 2023

Minute Read

The GOP is seeking to fund military aid to Israel in its war on Gaza by slashing the budget for the Internal Revenue Service, including funds for its free digital tax filing system currently in development.

Mike Johnson Reveals GOP Plan

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After House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) shared the GOP’s intention to cut the budget in order to finance the Israel war funding bill, the House Rules Committee released legislation outlining that $14 billion would be taken out of the total $67 billion the IRS receives.

The Inflation Reduction Act

The IRS earned a boost in funding with last year’s Inflation Reduction Act, which aimed to help the agency tackle tax evasion by the rich and improve the IRS’s systems and software, making it more accessible to the public.

The Extent of the IRS Cuts

The GOP offsets would also target funding for IRS enforcement, operations support, policymaking and internal investigations, with assistance for taxpayers and modernization of internal business systems the only sections unaffected by the bill.

Opposition to Free Digital Tax Filing

The introduction of a free digital tax filing system by the IRS has historically been opposed by tax preparation companies such as TurboTax, Intuit and H&R Block, who have spent tens of millions lobbying against the idea. The companies and government agreed in 2002 to not pursue a free system in exchange for the provision of free services by tax companies to filers making under $73,000 a year.

Tax Preparation Companies Misled Customers

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Following an amendment issued last March, this deal is set to expire in 2025. After a 2019 investigation by ProPublica found that companies frequently charged people who should be paying nothing for their services, indicating the necessity of a free system. According to a Government Accountability Office report, only 3% of Americans use free digital tax preparation, whereas 70% are eligible under the terms of the agreement.

Reducing Admininistrative Burdens

The Biden administration’s efforts to reduce administrative burdens include its free digital tax filing system under the IRS, enabling citizens to access and interact with the government more easily.

Biden and the Senate to Obstruct the Bill

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The GOP bill to reduce IRS funding is unlikely to pass in the Senate, where Democrats hold the majority, and could also potentially be vetoed by Biden if approved by Congress.

Chuck Schumer Weighs In

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) told CNN, “Obviously, a pay-for like that makes it much harder to pass.”

What the Internet Says

People online have taken to online forums to voice their opinions on the GOP’s bill. One commenter wrote, “they want to give less funding to the IRS in order to limit enforcement, which would mostly help rich people. This has nothing to do with Israel. Republicans are always trying to defund the IRS.”

Using Israel as a Smokescreen

Many people agreed that the GOP are hiding behind Israel to achieve other policy goals, with one person calling the bill “an excuse for Republicans to do what they already intended to do.” Another wrote: “Masquerading it as aid for Israel is perfect. It gives it a humanitarian aspect that’s easier to stomach.”

Benefitting the Rich

Several forum participants felt that the move was simply another way for Republican’s to serve the interests of the wealthy. “Doing their best to take money from the people who have the least of it, to benefit the people who have the most of it,” one commenter shared.

Political Strategy

One commenter suggested that the GOP fear a free tax filing will make the Democrats too popular. “They believe if taxes are free and easy to file, people will hate them less. Which blows the only semi moderate platform they have, taxes bad. Part of their pledge to never raise taxes also includes never voting to make taxes easy or simple.”

An Unworthy Use of Funds

Many took issue with money being funnelled into supporting Israel. “”Defense” is such a strange way to phrase it,” someone wrote. “It’s more like they violently kicked a bunch of people out of their homes, took their land and put them in a prison camp.” Another slammed Israel for its “far greater and much more pervasive violence and oppression.”

Questions Over Whether Israel Needs Aid

A popular sentiment was that Israel doesn’t need aid from the US compared to Gaza. “I can’t figure out what Israel needs aid for, given the difference in size and capabilities of the two sides,” one person observed. Another added: “Does Israel really need our aid? Don’t they already have the overwhelming upper hand in this conflict and seem to be spending most of their budget bomving civilians in Gaza?”

Concerns For Ukraine

Others expressed concern over the lack of aid to Ukraine, with one commenter explaining: “Ukraine needs it more. Russians can still win this war if we don’t continue to support Ukraine. It’s game over for Eastern Europe if Russia wins.”

Causing Chaos In Congress

One forum member said, “this is not a serious offer. It’s a prelude to forcing the government to default on its bills. Chaos is the goal.” Another responded, “they want the Dems to vote no on it so they can call them antisemitic and campaign off of it.”

The Internet Reaches a Consensus

The reaction online to the bill was highly unfavorable, with most people believing it would negatively impact working and middle class populations, as well as the economy. This prompted one commenter to query: “Are they trying to wreck America?”