Senator Hassan Presses for Faster Tax Refunds for Granite Staters at Senate Hearing with IRS Commissioner

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) pressed Daniel Werfel, IRS Commissioner, on what the agency is doing to quickly get Granite Staters their tax returns and provide other taxpayer services at a Senate Finance Committee hearing.

To watch Senator Hassan’s hearing questions, click here.

“I have heard again and again from my constituents about delays with getting their refunds and other taxpayer services,” said Senator Hassan. “IT issues have obviously contributed to these delays. For example, IRS’s difficulty in processing paper tax returns has led to significant issues for taxpayers – an issue I know that IRS has taken steps to address.”

Senator Hassan asked Commissioner Werfel how the IRS is working to minimize delays in tax refunds and other services through modernization of IT systems. Commissioner Werfel said that the IRS’s main system for all individual returns is almost ready for modernization, which will lead to “more real time information [and] faster processing.”

Senator Hassan next turned to cryptocurrency. “Cybercriminals often quickly convert stolen funds into cryptocurrency – making it nearly impossible for law enforcement to recover the funds,” said Senator Hassan. “This happened to the Town of Peterborough, New Hampshire in 2021, when criminals stole $2.3 million and then converted it to cryptocurrency.”

Senator Hassan asked Commissioner Werfel how recovering stolen funds after a cyberattack could be made easier by strengthening “Know Your Consumer” requirements for cryptocurrency exchanges, which would improve the rules on ID verification for cryptocurrency buyers and sellers. Commissioner Werfel agreed that “Know Your Customer” requirements could help people recover stolen funds by helping law enforcement identify and understand suspicious activity.

Lastly, Senator Hassan asked about the status of online tools that will protect taxpayers against AI-generated tax scams, and Commissioner Werfel said the IRS is currently working on developing new tools and also focusing on awareness campaigns.

Senator Hassan has led efforts to support and protect taxpayers and save taxpayer dollars. Last year, Senator Hassan reintroduced bipartisan legislation to modernize outdated and obsolete federal agency technology – helping reduce costs, strengthen cybersecurity, and improve customer experience for taxpayers. At the end of last year, two of Senator Hassan’s bills were recognized on the National Taxpayers Union’s “No-Brainer” list of legislation that Congress should pass and would save taxpayers money.

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