As proposed to be amended, this bill requires the Department of Revenue to provide a written report to the Senate and House Tax Committees on options for a free electronic filing system for individual income tax returns.  The report must be submitted by March 16, 2016, and must include responses from a Department request for information from consumer-based tax filing software vendors.  The request for information may include information sought from vendors on several aspects of a free e-filing solution:

• Costs to the state of Minnesota to provide an e-filing process for the preparation, submission, and payment remittance of individual income tax returns, on a per return basis;
• Capability to provide customer service and issue resolution to taxpayers using the software;
• Capability to provide and maintain an appropriate link between the Department of Revenue and the IRS Modernized Electronic Filing Program;
• Capability to ensure that taxpayer return information is secure and protected;
• Products for the free filing and submitting of both Minnesota and federal returns offered to customers and the various thresholds for using those products; and
• Any add-on products offered to customers and their costs.

The bill is effective the day following final enactment.