Sponsor
Haley Stevens
Representative · D-MI
Representative · D-MI
Official title: To require incumbent and aspiring Members of Congress to disclose their income tax returns, and for other purposes.
Introduced April 30, 2026 by Haley Stevens · Last progress April 30, 2026
The bill greatly increases transparency and the public's ability to spot conflicts by publishing Members' and candidates' tax returns, but it does so at the cost of significant privacy risks, administrative and legal burdens, and a potential chilling effect on candidacy.
Voters, taxpayers, and watchdogs will have public access to Members' and candidates' federal tax filings, increasing transparency and making it easier to detect conflicts of interest or undisclosed income.
Taxpayers, state governments, and the public will benefit from a single, standardized public repository maintained by congressional officers that centralizes access to filings and improves consistency and accessibility of disclosures.
Taxpayers and federal employees may see higher timely compliance because public naming of noncompliant Members and candidates creates a reputational incentive to file disclosures promptly.
Members, candidates, their families (including seniors/retirees) will have detailed personal financial and tax information exposed publicly, raising privacy concerns and increasing risks of identity theft and misuse of sensitive data.
Potential and current candidates may be deterred from running or serving because mandatory public disclosure of tax returns reduces financial privacy, creating a chilling effect on qualified applicants for office.
Taxpayers, the IRS, and congressional offices could face legal and administrative complications because public disclosure of detailed tax returns may conflict with existing IRS confidentiality rules and tax-administration processes.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Directs congressional officials to create a public database posting Members' and congressional candidates' specified individual income tax filings within days of submission, applying to tax years beginning in 2025.
Requires the House Clerk and Senate Secretary to operate a public, searchable database posting specified individual federal income tax filings for Members of Congress and congressional candidates. Covered filings (Form 1040 with Schedule A or successors, extension requests, and a required non‑filing statement) must be submitted by Members/candidates within two business days after they file with the IRS (30 days for those who become Members/candidates after filing) and posted publicly within five business days; the rule applies to tax years beginning in 2025 and includes transition deadlines for filings in the year of enactment.