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Senator Hassan Urges IRS to Increase Outreach to New Parents About Tax Cuts for Families

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) today urged Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Daniel Werfel to increase outreach to new parents about tax cuts available for families.

“Many first-time parents may be unaware of provisions in the tax code that support families, such as the Child Tax Credit, Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit, and tax-advantaged savings accounts,” wrote Senator Hassan. “As a result, they are at risk of missing out on these critical tax benefits.”

“A report by the Tax Policy Center found that innovative partnerships between nurses and tax professionals can help address this problem by connecting first-time parents, particularly mothers, with tax filing information and tools,” continued Senator Hassan. “These kinds of programs can help ensure that new mothers claim the full set of family tax benefits for which they’re eligible.”

This letter is part of Senator Hassan’s ongoing work to support new parents. Senator Hassan helped negotiate and is working to pass the bipartisan tax package that passed in the House in January, which includes a tailored child tax credit expansion. This week, a Department of Health and Human Services task force released recommendations to improve maternal mental health, as required by a bipartisan law introduced by U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH). Senator Hassan also recently urged a major pharmaceutical company to restore access to the most commonly used inhaler by children for asthma and include it in its pledge to limit out-of-pocket inhaler prices to $35. Earlier this year, Senator Hassan helped reintroduce bipartisan legislation to provide a tax cut of up to $5,000 for eligible and working family caregivers in New Hampshire and across the country.

Click to see the full letter sent to IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel or see text below:

Dear Commissioner Werfel:

I write today to inquire about the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) outreach efforts to help first-time parents take advantage of tax benefits that they may be unaware that they qualify for. Furthermore, I urge the IRS to examine innovative partnerships between government agencies, nonprofits, and other private sector organizations to help connect more parents, and mothers in particular, with vital tax benefits.

Many first-time parents may be unaware of provisions in the tax code that support families, such as the Child Tax Credit, Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit, and tax-advantaged savings accounts. As a result, they are at risk of missing out on these critical tax benefits. A report by the Tax Policy Center found that innovative partnerships between nurses and tax professionals can help address this problem by connecting first-time parents, particularly mothers, with tax filing information and tools.  These kinds of programs can help ensure that new mothers claim the full set of family tax benefits for which they’re eligible.

During a hearing last year with the Senate Finance Committee, you stated that you support the IRS partnering with other agencies to improve enrollment rates for eligible taxpayers facing difficulty accessing tax benefits. With that in mind, I would appreciate your response to the following questions:

  1. How can the IRS better support innovative partnerships with other government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and other private sector actors to help first-time mothers fully access family tax benefits such as the Child Tax Credit, Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit, and tax-advantaged savings accounts?
  2. How is the IRS prioritizing outreach efforts specifically for first-time mothers? What resources are currently available to help connect first-time mothers with benefits that they may be eligible for?
  3. What additional efforts, if any, is the IRS currently engaged in to better understand the barriers that first-time mothers may face to enroll in tax benefits eligible to them?

Thank you for your attention to this important issue and I look forward to your response.

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