Comptroller Huffines Encourages Texans to Submit Comments on Plan to End Tax on Medical Records
(AUSTIN) — Texas Comptroller Don Huffines encourages Texans to weigh in on his plan to eliminate the unfair tax on Texans’ medical records when the rule change to adopt his new policy is published for public comment this week in the Texas Register. Currently Texas charges sales tax on the fees physicians and hospitals pay to access online medical records, resulting in additional costs that drive up the price of healthcare.
“I want every Texan to know their voice truly matters in this process,” Huffines said. “This rule change is about restoring fairness, and the public’s perspective is essential. I encourage Texans from every corner of the state to speak up and help us build the strongest record possible.
“Texans deserve transparency and fairness in every corner of government. A tax that quietly penalizes people for accessing their own medical information has no place in our system. This rule change restores common sense and removes an unnecessary burden on families and healthcare providers.”
Under the rule established by previous leadership of the Comptroller’s office, technology that stores or shares medical records was unfairly subjected to the sales tax, which meant Texans could get hit with a tax just for accessing their own medical information. The Huffines rule change clarifies that it is neither taxable information services nor taxable data processing services.
The Huffines rule change ends taxes on charges for:
- electronic health record systems;
- electronic medical record systems;
- patient portals; and
- other healthcare technology systems used to maintain, access, or share medical records.
Earlier this month, Huffines issued an executive order directing the agency to publish a proposed amendment to Rule 3.342, governing the taxation of information services. The proposed amendment has been filed with the Texas Secretary of State and will be published in the Texas Register on Friday, Oct. 30, followed by a 30‑day public comment period.
Texans can submit comments on the rule change by mail to Robin Robinson, Associate Deputy Comptroller for Tax, P.O. Box 13528, Austin, Texas, 78711, or by email to Robin.Robinson@cpa.texas.gov. The Comptroller must receive your comments or other information no later than 30 days from the date of publication of the proposal in the Texas Register.
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