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Committee on Ways and Means

For Immediate Release
Contact: Press Office 202-225-8933
March 20, 2002

Committee Acts to Tighten Safeguards for Taxpayers

Broad Bipartisan Support for Tax Code Modifications and Correcting 527 Double Reporting

WASHINGTON—In a bipartisan vote of 34-6, the House Ways and Means Committee took steps today to enhance the fairness, efficiency and confidentiality of the Internal Revenue Service, three weeks before the April 15 tax filing deadline.

"The Taxpayer Protection and IRS Accountability Act of 2002, includes a number of changes to make IRS debt collection practices fairer to the taxpayer, and brings IRS penalties more in line with the infraction. It protects taxpayer privacy by making unauthorized browsing of taxpayer records by IRS staff a cause for immediate dismissal."

Additional funds included in the provisions authorizing Low Income Taxpayer Clinics will help provide legal assistance to more low-income Americans who find themselves in disputes with the IRS. 

Electronic filing of tax returns gets a boost in the legislation passed today, with an extension of the deadline to April 30 for taxpayers who file their returns electronically.

Finally, changes to section 527 of the tax code would eliminate unnecessary double reporting requirements for groups that only engage in state and local political activities.