Taxpayer Due Process Enhancement Act
Floor Speech
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Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6506) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to suspend the period of limitations on filing a claim for credit or refund during collection action proceedings, to prohibit the crediting of overpayments against disputed tax liability during such proceedings, and to expand the jurisdiction of the Tax Court, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 6506
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Taxpayer Due Process Enhancement Act''. SEC. 2. SUSPENSION OF PERIOD OF LIMITATIONS ON FILING A CLAIM FOR CREDIT OR REFUND DURING COLLECTION ACTION PROCEEDINGS.
(a) In General.--Section 6330(e)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting ``subsection (a), (b), or (c) of section 6511 (relating to limitations on credit or refund),'' after ``section 6502 (relating to collection after assessment),''.
(b) Period of Limitations on Filing a Claim for Credit or Refund.--Section 6330(e) of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(3) Period of limitations on filing a claim for credit or refund.--In the case of the running of any period of limitations under subsection (a), (b), or (c) of section 6511 with respect to the filing of any claim for credit or refund, paragraph (1)--
``(A) shall apply only to the extent that such credit or refund relates to an underlying tax liability properly disputed at the hearing requested under this section, and
``(B) shall not result in a suspension of the running of such period of limitations after any date on which a lapse of a deadline, a court filing, or a court order establishes that the taxpayer has forfeited or otherwise lost the right to pursue such dispute.''.
(c) Cross Reference.--Section 6511(i) of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(8) For limitations in case of collection action proceedings, see section 6330(e).''.
(d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall apply to the running of any period of limitations if such period (determined without regard to the amendments made by this section) ends on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON CREDITING OF OVERPAYMENTS AGAINST DISPUTED TAX LIABILITY DURING COLLECTION ACTION PROCEEDINGS.
(a) In General.--Section 6402 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(o) Prohibition on Crediting of Overpayments Against Disputed Tax Liability During Collection Action Proceedings.--If a hearing is properly requested under section 6320(a)(3)(B) or 6330(a)(3)(B), and an underlying tax liability referred to in section 6330(c)(2)(B) is properly disputed at such hearing, such tax liability shall not, except with the consent of the taxpayer, be taken into account under subsection (a) for the period during which the period of limitations for filing a claim for credit or refund relating to such tax liability is suspended by reason of section 6330(e).''.
(b) Clarification of Application of Certain Levy Hearing Rules to Lien Hearings.--Section 6330(c)(2)(A) of such Code is amended by striking ``unpaid tax or the proposed levy'' and inserting ``unpaid tax, collection action, or proposed collection action''.
(c) Effective Dates.--
(1) In general.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to any period described in section 6402(o) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as added by this section) if any portion of such period is after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(2) Clarification of application of certain levy hearing rules to lien hearings.--The amendment made by subsection (b) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act. SEC. 4. EXPANSION OF JURISDICTION OF TAX COURT.
(a) In General.--Section 6330(d)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows:
``(1) Petition for review by tax court.--
``(A) In general.--In the case of a determination under this section, the person may, within 30 days of such determination, petition the Tax Court for review of--
``(i) such determination, and
``(ii) any underlying tax liability referred to in subsection (c)(2)(B) which is properly disputed at the hearing in which such determination is made.
``(B) Jurisdiction of tax court.--Upon the filing of a petition, the Tax Court shall have jurisdiction with respect to--
``(i) the determination referred to in subparagraph (A)(i),
``(ii) any underlying tax liability referred to in subparagraph (A)(ii), and
``(iii) any equitable tolling of the 30-day deadline referred to in subparagraph (A).
``(C) Retention of jurisdiction.--Upon a determination being made under this section, subparagraphs (A) and (B) shall apply whether or not the Secretary abandons the collection action or proposed collection action at issue in such determination.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply with respect to petitions filed after the date of the enactment of this Act.
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Mr. SMITH of Missouri.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6506, the Taxpayer Due Process Enhancement Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by my Ways and Means colleagues, Representatives Nathaniel Moran and Terri Sewell.
A recent Supreme Court decision will make it more difficult for American taxpayers to challenge the IRS in court when the agency seeks to impose levies over an alleged tax liability. Right now, the taxpayer can lose the opportunity to dispute the agency's actions simply by procedural technicalities.
This bill enhances taxpayer rights by making collection proceedings more taxpayer-friendly. By protecting deadlines, safeguarding refunds, and ensuring fair judicial review, these changes are all for the benefit of the taxpayer.
Mr. Speaker, as a former county judge, Representative Moran is leading the charge through this legislation to restore taxpayer rights and ensure that Americans can have their day in court. I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, every taxpayer deserves the right to dispute IRS actions taken against them. We have a judicial system in place that exists to protect that right.
Unfortunately, as the system stands today, the IRS can circumvent taxpayer rights, abandon judicial review, and impose penalties on individuals who will have no real way to challenge what the government claims.
Due process must be protected for all Americans, particularly for those who are facing down a powerful government agency like the IRS.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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