Griffin: Tax Day is a 'Powerful Reminder of the Need for Comprehensive Tax Reform'

Statement

Congressman Tim Griffin (AR-02), a member of the Ways and Means Committee, issued the following statement regarding "Tax Day," the day on which individual income tax returns are due to the federal government:

"Anyone who's done their own taxes knows that our 60,000-page tax code is too complex. Americans spend $168 billion and six billion hours just complying with tax laws annually. These shocking numbers are a powerful reminder of the need for comprehensive tax reform. Unlike President Obama -- who's latest budget calls for a $1.1 trillion tax hike -- I believe Americans deserve a fairer, simpler, and flatter tax code."

The President's proposed budget raises taxes by $1.1 trillion.

According to the Tax Foundation, Tax Freedom Day is April 18 -- the day when the nation as a whole has earned enough money to pay off its total tax bill for the year. This year, Americans will pay $2.76 trillion in federal taxes and $1.45 trillion in state taxes, for a total tax bill of $4.22 trillion, or 29.4 percent of income. April 18 is nearly one-third of the way into the year.

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