Administration

Mnuchin: 90 percent of Americans will be able to file taxes on postcard

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Sunday doubled down on comments that 90 percent of Americans will be able to file their taxes on a postcard under Republican legislation.

“Over 90 percent of Americans are going to fill out taxes on that postcard or a virtual electronic postcard. This is about simplifying taxes and simplifying the business systems,” Mnuchin told host Chris Wallace on “Fox News Sunday.”

“So there will always be people who complain that are losing tax breaks, but this is about making it simple for the American public,” he added.

{mosads}

Wallace pressed him on claim, however, pointing to changes to the bill.

“I want to press on that because that’s a new number. I heard that originally, but you’re still saying over 90 percent of Americans would be able to file on a postcard?” Wallace asked.

“Absolutely, they will take the standard deduction and that is what they will file,” Mnuchin responded.

The Treasury secretary added that the Trump administration is already in the process “of designing new forms so Americans don’t have thousands of pages of tax forms.”

Republicans are on the verge of passing legislation to reform the tax code for the first time in 30 years, which would give President Trump his first major legislative win. 

Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) said on Sunday that he expects the upper chamber to pass the measure on Tuesday.