H.R. 451

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to prohibit certain activities constituting preparation of tax returns by the Secretary of the Treasury, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · January 15, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Smith of Nebraska · Committee: Committee on Ways and Means

Table of contents

• H.R. 451
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Prohibition of certain return preparation
  • SEC. 3. Limitation on further expenditures circumventing congressional authority

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as the or the .

SEC. 2. Prohibition of certain return preparation

• (a) In general
  • of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: Section 6020
    • (c) Prohibited preparation by Secretary
      • (1) In general
        • Except as provided in section 6014 and subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the Secretary shall not prepare any return of tax imposed by this title or any claim for refund of tax imposed by this title.
      • (2) Prohibition of direct file and comparable programs
        • For purposes of paragraph (1), any return or claim for refund prepared using an electronic tax preparation service operated by the Secretary shall be treated as if such return or claim were prepared by the Secretary.
        • Prohibition of direct file and comparable programs
      • (3) Qualified return preparation programs and IRS Free File partnership
        • Paragraph (2) shall not apply to any return or claim for refund solely because such return or claim for refund was prepared via, or with the assistance of—
          • a qualified return preparation program (as defined in section 7526A(e)), or
          • the IRS Free File Program as established by the Internal Revenue Service and published in the Federal Register on November 4, 2002 (67 Fed. Reg. 67247), including any subsequent agreements and governing rules established pursuant thereto.
      • (4) Definitions
        • For purposes of this subsection—
        • (A) Tax return preparation
          • (i) The term with respect to any return or claim for refund means— prepare
          • the completion of any form and schedule needed to compute and report any tax imposed by this title or any claim for refund of such a tax, and
          • the filing of any such return or claim for refund, regardless of whether such return or claim is submitted electronically or on paper.
          • For purposes of the preceding sentence, the preparation of any portion of a return or claim for refund shall be treated as if it were the preparation of such return or claim for refund.
          • (ii) Computation and correction of errors, etc
            • Such term shall not include any computation authorized by section 6102 or any other computation or correction of mathematical or clerical errors required or authorized by any provision of chapter 63.
            • Such term shall not include the provision of fillable forms by the Secretary merely because such forms include an automated calculation feature.
        • (B) Electronic tax preparation service
          • The term electronic tax preparation service operated by the Secretary means the free direct e-file tax return system as established by the Internal Revenue Service and published in the Federal Register on December 15, 2023 (88 Fed. Reg. 87057), and September 5, 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 72699), and any successor program of the Internal Revenue Service which provides an electronic tax preparation service option.
• (b) Effective date
  • The amendment made by this section shall apply to returns filed after the date which is 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
• (c) No inference
  • The amendment made by this section shall not be construed to create any inference with respect to the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury (or any delegate of such Secretary) to develop and offer for use any electronic tax filing or tax preparation service option, or otherwise engage in the preparation of any return of tax or any claim for refund of tax imposed by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, with respect to any taxable year beginning on or before the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 3. Limitation on further expenditures circumventing congressional authority

• The Secretary of the Treasury (or any delegate of such Secretary) may not award or make payment of grants or enter into or maintain any contract, other transaction, or reimbursable agreement for the development or operation of an electronic tax preparation service option after the date of the enactment of this Act unless otherwise authorized by law.