In new TPA survey, more than 82% of GOP primary voters say they would be unlikely to vote for a presidential candidate who supports a Direct File tax prep system

WASHINGTON D.C. – With the primaries and caucuses around the corner, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) released a new survey showing GOP primary voters in early voting states overwhelmingly oppose the creation of a disastrous government-run tax prep system – also known as Direct File.

In Iowa, 9-in-10 Iowa Republicans polled said that that they do not trust a government-run tax preparation system, while 79% would not utilize this system if it did not prepare all their taxes in one place.

In New Hampshire, 4-in-5 Granite Staters polled said that that they do not trust a government-run tax preparation system, and 74% of GOP voters plan to continue using their current method of tax preparation rather than try a new and untested government-run program.

In January 2024, the IRS is expected to launch a pilot program – without congressional authorization – that would make the agency the tax assessor, collector, preparer, and enforcer. New Hampshire will be one of just 13 states participating in this pilot program, even though 87% of Granite State GOP voters are opposed to Governor Chris Sununu (R-NH) partnering with the federal government to allow the IRS greater access to voters’ private tax information. Additionally, 83% of Iowa Republicans also distrust the IRS’ ability to protect their private data and tax information.

The Taxpayers Protection Alliance’s (TPA) President, David Williams, offered the following comment:

“These results confirm what TPA has been saying since day one and what should be obvious by now: voters do not trust or want the IRS to act as both tax preparer and processor or have even greater access to their sensitive financial data. Direct File is just another example of the IRS’ overreach into Americans’ lives. TPA calls on all GOP presidential candidates to denounce Direct File and pledge to end the this misguided, wasteful use of taxpayer dollars and expansion of IRS power if elected.”

Nearly all GOP primary voters surveyed oppose taxpayer dollars being used to build out an IRS-run system. Nearly half (43%) of Granite State voters said they’d prefer to see funds used to simplify the tax code, while roughly a quarter (23%) would like to see the IRS update their software and security.

The survey was conducted December 6 through December 9, 2023, with 800 likely 2024 Republican Primary Election voters. The full survey results and a key findings memo can be found here for Iowa and here for New Hampshire.

TPA conducted a similar survey in 2022 that found 75% of voters nationwide do not support giving the IRS new authority to prepare and file tax returns on behalf of millions of taxpayers.

TPA will also be releasing poll data from South Carolina and Nevada GOP primary voters in early 2024.

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Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to educating the public through the research, analysis and dissemination of information on the government’s effects on the economy.