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10/20/2021

Statement by Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen on Congressional Tax Compliance Proposals | U.S. Departmen…

Statement by Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen on
Congressional Tax Compliance Proposals
October 19, 2021

I deeply appreciate Chairman Wyden and Chairman Neal’s leadership on reconciliation and in
particular, on the need to close the tax gap. Under the current system, American workers pay
virtually all their tax bills while many top earners avoid paying billions in the taxes they owe
by exploiting the system. At the core of the problem is a discrepancy in the ways types of
income are reported to the IRS: opaque income sources frequently avoid scrutiny while
wages and federal benefits are typically subject to nearly full compliance. This two-tiered tax
system is unfair and deprives the country of resources to fund core priorities.
Today’s new proposal reflects the Administration’s strong belief that we should zero in on
those at the top of the income scale who don’t pay the taxes they owe, while protecting
American workers by setting the bank account threshold at $10,000 and providing an
exemption for wage earners like teachers and firefighters. We will continue to work with
leaders in Congress to enact this important measure to level the playing field for workers
and small businesses, and raise revenue to build our economy back better.
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https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0416

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