Moran Announces Tax Relief for Public Safety Officers

Press Release

Moran Announces Tax Relief for Public Safety Officers

Congressman Jerry Moran announced this week that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has extended tax relief to public safety officers driving government vehicles. Previously, first responders such as emergency medical services (EMS) personnel were taxed for driving government vehicles to and from work while they were on call.

"Many public safety officers in Kansas are on call 24 hours a day and need ready access to their vehicles at home so they can respond to emergencies at a moment's notice. Unfortunately, our tax code has penalized these responders, resulting in longer emergency response times, especially in rural communities," said Moran. "The change I requested will provide EMS and other responders the same exemption from commuting taxes as police officers, and will enable them to perform their job without interference from the IRS."

"We expect critical safety personnel to respond to medical and other emergencies directly from their homes, and the new IRS regulation means that they can do so without being unfairly penalized. Congressman Moran guided this change through the process in Washington, and we appreciate his tenacity in this regard," said Randall Allen, Executive Director, Kansas Association of Counties.

"We worked on this tax issue for four years and Congressman Moran was instrumental to finding a solution to this problem. Kansas EMS providers are extremely thankful for his diligence and persistence on our behalf," said Terry David, Rice County EMS and Emergency Management Director.

In 2007, Moran joined the Kansas Association of Counties and the Kansas Emergency Medical Services Association in notifying U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson about the negative impact of the tax code on emergency responders. Moran requested the IRS consider the use of emergency worker vehicles as a working condition benefit, similar to police and fire vehicles. The new IRS regulation, effective May 19, 2010, will exempt public safety officers such as EMS personnel and rescue crews from paying taxes on the value of their commute to and from work when they are on call.

Moran is Co-Chairman of the House Rural Health Care Coalition.

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