As the April 18 deadline to file 2022 income taxes arrives, many African Americans share their experiences with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Some have said that filing their taxes was hard and they ran into problems, while others were happy with the process.

Recent statistics show that African Americans comprise a large share of taxpayers in the United States.

However, many still need help navigating the complex tax system and dealing with the IRS.
One common issue African American taxpayers report is difficulty accessing tax services and resources.

Many live in areas that need access to qualified tax professionals, making it harder for them to file their taxes accurately and on time.

This can lead to costly mistakes, late fees, and other penalties.

Many have reported experiencing discrimination and bias while dealing with the IRS.
Such actions can come in many forms, such as being audited unfairly or getting less help than other taxpayers.

A recent study confirmed that Black Americans are three to five times more likely to face an IRS audit when compared with other taxpayers.

Evelyn Smith, an economics graduate student at the University of Michigan and visiting fellow at Stanford University’s RegLab, told CNBC that the audit rate differences seem to be driven by the agency’s focus on “low-dollar, high-certainty cases.”

Specifically, the study examines audits of filers claiming the earned income tax credit, a tax break for low to moderate earners.

The credit is refundable, meaning eligible filers can receive it even with zero taxes due.

The findings show Black filers claiming the earned income tax credit were more likely to be audited than non-Black filers claiming the same credit.

“It’s a type of audit that the IRS does a lot,” Smith told the network. “It’s cheap, it’s easy to perform and Black taxpayers get caught up in that disproportionately relative to non-Black taxpayers.”

Those facts have proven discouraging for African American taxpayers, who already have to deal with systemic racism and discrimination in other parts of their lives.

Despite the problems, many still have found ways to deal with the tax system and file their taxes successfully.

Some have sought free or low-cost tax preparation services provided by community organizations or the IRS.

Others have relied on online tax software and resources to file their taxes independently.
Those who have had positive experiences with the IRS emphasize the importance of being organized, keeping good records, and staying on top of tax deadlines.

They also say to find tax professionals or resources early on to ensure the filing process goes smoothly and without stress.

Overall, the experiences of African Americans with the IRS show that the tax system needs to be fairer and easier to use.

“Taxpayers of all backgrounds should have access to high-quality tax services and resources, regardless of where they live or their income level,” Alton Moore, a tax preparer and accountant, insisted.

“The IRS should get rid of bias and unfair treatment so that all taxpayers are treated equally,” Moore asserted.

The post As tax deadline approaches, African Americans still face systemic challenges appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.

* This article was originally published here

U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge recently held a roundtable with a group of Black journalists to discuss the ongoing issue of housing inequities and the opportunities the Biden-Harris administration has pushed for African American and minority homeownership.

During the roundtable, Fudge talked about how more needs to be done to fix the racial differences in the housing market.

She stated that housing costs are inextricably linked to inflation and that HUD is committed to doing more to help ensure that everyone has access to safe and affordable housing.

Even though there has been some progress, the Secretary said that the rate of African Americans owning their own homes is still much lower than that of white Americans.
She pointed out that the racial wealth gap, discriminatory lending practices, and other systemic issues are all factors that contribute to this disparity.

To help address these issues, Fudge discussed several initiatives that HUD is currently working on, including expanding access to down payment assistance programs, increasing affordable housing options, and combating discriminatory lending practices.

One of the main discussion topics during the roundtable was the effect these initiatives would have on Black communities.

Fudge, a former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, said that fixing the housing problems in these communities is essential for economic growth and social mobility.

The Secretary also emphasized the importance of working with local governments, community organizations, and other stakeholders to ensure that these initiatives effectively address the specific needs of Black communities.

Fudge further discussed the need to expand access to affordable housing in urban areas, where the cost of living is often higher than in other parts of the country.

She highlighted the importance of working with local governments to promote mixed-income housing developments, which can help to promote economic diversity and reduce segregation within these communities.

“What we are saying at HUD and the Biden-Harris administration is that we can assist you with down payment assistance, we can assist you by staying in your homes, like giving you longer mortgages, we can make sure that we treat you fairly throughout that lending process,” Fudge asserted.

“We also have resources that we have put out tons of money. We send out community development block grant money, which many of them use. We send home money to communities to help them build housing, as well as we look at a broader picture and understand the significance of the problems.”

Fudge continued to emphasize the need to address the issue of housing discrimination.
Fudge noted that HUD is working to strengthen fair housing laws and enforce them more effectively.

She emphasized that discrimination in the housing market is morally wrong and against the law and that the Biden-Harris administration is committed to taking decisive action to fix this problem.

Fudge said that the Biden-Harris administration is committed to ensuring everyone has equal access to housing and fixing the systemic problems that have led to different homeownership rates for other races.

The Secretary acknowledged that much work remained in this area but expressed her optimism that progress can be made through continued collaboration and commitment to this critical issue.

She encouraged the journalists to continue engaging with HUD and help spread awareness of the ongoing efforts to address these issues.

Fudge said HUD and the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to this issue is a positive sign that progress can be made in addressing these systemic issues and promoting more equitable access to safe and affordable housing for all Americans.

“This HUD understands what it means to invest in housing,” Fudge insisted.

“We know that when we invest in housing, we invest in people. When we invest in people, we make people feel good. When we make people feel good, we inspire them to do good, and I believe good things happen to good people.”

The post HUD Secretary Fudge hosts Black journalists in discussion to fix housing crisis appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.

* This article was originally published here