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Happy President’s Day!
On this Presidents Day, we pause to reflect the leaders who have shaped the course of our nation. From George Washington’s beloved leadership, to Abraham Lincoln’s enduring commitment to freedom, the legacy of our Presidents serves as a testament to the resilience, courage, and vision that define the American spirit.
May this day inspire us to reflect on our shared history, celebrate the values that unite us, and recommit ourselves to the enduring promise of America.
Celebrating Arizona’s Statehood
As you'll remember, we celebrated Arizona’s Statehood on Friday, February 14. As a numbers guy myself, I have complied a list of fascinating statistics that I’ve gathered throughout many meetings regarding our great state. Here are some of my most favorite facts and figures about 'The Grand Canyon' state:
- Grand Canyon: Speaking of the Grand Canyon, our breathtaking addition to the Seven Natural Wonders of the World attracts about 6 million visitors annually.
- Sunny Days: The city of Phoenix boasts an average of 299 sunny days per year, making it one of the sunniest cities in the world!
- Copper Production: Arizona produces about 60 percent of the copper mined in the United States.
- Fast-growing City: Phoenix is the fifth most populous city in the U.S. and one of the fastest-growing major cities in the country.
- Diverse Geography: Our state features over 100 mountain ranges, including Humphreys Peak at 12,637 feet – the highest point in Arizona.
- Navajo Nation: Arizona has the largest Native American reservation in the U.S., the Navajo Nation, covering over 17 million acres.
IRS Modernization Could Help Answer Your Tax Filing Questions
As the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee, we held our first hearing of the 119th Congress, titled IRS Return on Investment and the Need for Modernization. Two years after receiving an $80 billion windfall, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) failed to live up to the lofty promises outlined in the Inflation Reduction Act. Significant resources were spent to meet the purported goals of enhancing taxpayer services and increasing enforcement activities, yet only 31 percent of taxpayers successfully reached an IRS employee while the agency failed to meet its revenue collection projection by 56 percent.
Despite receiving $4.8 billion in funding for IT modernization, the IRS was recently given a “D” grade on modernization by the National Taxpayers Union. Instead of hiring tens of thousands of new agents to audit more workers, the IRS should be leveraging new technologies, like artificial intelligence, to drastically improve customer service at the agency. The IRS still operates on outdated legacy systems, including some that date back to 1959, wasting time and resources and making taxpayer data vulnerable to security risks.
The bottom line is taxpayers are not receiving the return on investment promised by the injection of billions of dollars to supposedly modernize the IRS and improve customer service from the Inflation Reduction Act. Families and small businesses want a responsive, fair, and efficient IRS. The solution lies in what Congress can do in terms of modernizing its decades-old systems through the adoption of artificial intelligence and advanced data analytics.
Don’t Miss the U.S. Naval Academy Admissions Forum
Mark your calendars- THIS upcoming Saturday, February 22, the U.S. Naval Academy is hosting its Admissions Forum! If you have or know of any high school student interested in applying to the United States Naval Academy, now is your chance to learn more. Stop by the Civic Center Library from 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. to learn more about this incredible opportunity. To register for the forum, click here.
Don’t Wait on Hold; Use IRS Online Tools for Faster Help
The IRS has resources to help taxpayers beat the rush. On IRS.gov, taxpayers can use the Let Us Help You page that covers most topics for filing season and beyond. In addition, people can get free help online with self-service options.
Skip the wait: Get tax info with an Individual Online Account
Individuals with Social Security numbers or Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN) can create or securely access their Individual Online Account and get the latest information about their federal tax account.
With an IRS online account, taxpayers can:
- Access their tax records, including their Adjusted Gross Income from their most recently filed tax return.
- View, approve and sign authorizations from their tax professional.
- Request and view their Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN), a six-digit number known only to the taxpayer and the IRS that prevents someone else from filing a tax return using their information.
- Check refund status.
- Validate and save bank accounts.
- View balance and payment history and create a payment plan.
- Make a payment and schedule or cancel future payments.
- Get virtual assistance for balance due and payment-related questions.
- Manage their communication preferences.
Skip the wondering: Check refund status online
The popular Where’s My Refund? tool on IRS.gov has the most up-to-date information available about a taxpayer’s refund status. Recent improvements to Where’s My Refund? allow taxpayers to see more detailed refund status messages in plain language, reducing the need for taxpayers to call the IRS.
Most Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) related refunds should be available in bank accounts or on debit cards by March 3 if taxpayers chose direct deposit and there are no other issues with their tax return. Taxpayers can check Where’s My Refund? for their personalized refund date. Where’s My Refund? should show an updated status by February 22 for most early EITC/ACTC filers.
Skip the surprise: Use the Tax Withholding Estimator
Taxpayers should check their tax withholding every year, especially if they experience a major life change. The Tax Withholding Estimator tool allows taxpayers to estimate the federal income tax they want their employer to withhold from their paycheck.
By using the Tax Withholding Estimator, taxpayers can adjust their tax withheld up front so they can protect against having too little tax withheld and prevent an unexpected tax bill or penalty at tax time next year. Taxpayers should submit a new Form W-4 to their employer to make any adjustments.
IRS.gov is the first stop for help
IRS.gov is the quickest and easiest option to get help. Taxpayers can visit IRS.gov anytime to get answers to tax questions. People can find more tips and resources by visiting the Let Us Help You page on IRS.gov.
For more information
Recognizing Some Amazing Citizens of AZ-01
Last week, members of my staff attended The HUB (Hatcher Urban Business Alliance) monthly meeting. The meeting was at held the Sunnyslope Rock Garden. The Rock Garden, located at 10023 N. 13th Place in Phoenix, has been a fixture on the Sunnyslope mountainside since 1953. It began as the vision of Grover Cleveland Thompson, who transformed rocks, discarded glass, and donated items into a public art masterpiece celebrating his love for the area. It was recently granted historic designation from the City of Phoenix in December 2024, which had been a request by the community since June 2024.
NO Mobile Office Hours This Week
As a correction from last week's newsletter, there will be NO mobile office hours this week. Stay tuned for next week's newsletter with the date, time, and location for upcoming mobile office hours. For immediate casework assistance, please call my district office at (480) 946-2411 to learn more on how we can advocate on your behalf with a federal agency.
What I’m Reading & Why It Matters
A recent study has found that patients transitioning from private Medicare Advantage plans to traditional Medicare incur significantly higher costs than those who remain within the same system. Specifically, in 2022, these patients cost 27 percent more than beneficiaries who had not been enrolled in Medicare Advantage. The research suggests that some individuals may face challenges accessing necessary care within private plans, prompting them to switch to traditional Medicare, especially during critical health periods.
Another recent analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) reveals that Medicare spending is, on average, 27 percent higher for beneficiaries who transition from Medicare Advantage (MA) plans to traditional Medicare compared to those who remain in traditional Medicare. This equates to an average increase of $2,585 per person in 2022. The elevated costs are primarily attributed to increased utilization of skilled nursing facilities, outpatient hospital services, and inpatient hospital care. Notably, the spending disparity is more pronounced among beneficiaries aged 85 and older, as well as among Black and Hispanic individuals. These findings raise questions about the adequacy of care within MA plans and suggest that some enrollees may switch to traditional Medicare to access necessary services. The study underscores the importance of evaluating the effectiveness of MA plans in meeting the healthcare needs of diverse populations. |