IB
Union Calendar No. 489
115th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5445
[Report No. 115–638]
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 10, 2018
Mr. Bishop of Michigan (for himself and Ms. DelBene) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
April 13, 2018
Additional sponsors: Mr. Sessions, Mr. Renacci, Mr. Curbelo of Florida, Mr. Marchant, and Mr. Lewis of Georgia
April 13, 2018
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic
For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on April 10, 2018
A BILL
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to improve cybersecurity and taxpayer identity protection, and modernize the information technology of the Internal Revenue Service, and for other purposes.
Short title; etc
Short title
This Act may be cited as the 21st Century IRS Act
.
Amendment of 1986 Code
Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other provision of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
Table of contents
The table of contents of this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; etc.
Title I—Cybersecurity and identity protection
Sec. 101. Public-private partnership to address identity theft refund fraud.
Sec. 102. Recommendations of Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee regarding identity theft refund fraud.
Sec. 103. Information sharing and analysis center.
Sec. 104. Compliance by contractors with confidentiality safeguards.
Sec. 105. Report on electronic payments.
Title II—Development of information technology
Sec. 201. Management of Internal Revenue Service information technology.
Sec. 202. Development of online accounts and portals.
Sec. 203. Internet platform for Form 1099 filings.
Title III—Modernization of consent-based income verification system
Sec. 301. Disclosure of taxpayer information for third-party income verification.
Sec. 302. Limit redisclosures and uses of consent-based disclosures of tax return information.
Title IV—Expanded use of electronic systems
Sec. 401. Electronic filing of returns.
Sec. 402. Uniform standards for the use of electronic signatures for disclosure authorizations to, and other authorizations of, practitioners.
Sec. 403. Payment of taxes by debit and credit cards.
Cybersecurity and identity protection
Public-private partnership to address identity theft refund fraud
The Secretary of the Treasury (or the Secretary’s delegate) shall work collaboratively with the public and private sectors to protect taxpayers from identity theft refund fraud.
Recommendations of Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee regarding identity theft refund fraud
The Secretary of the Treasury shall ensure that the advisory group convened by the Secretary pursuant to section 2001(b)(2) of the Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998 (commonly known as the Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee) studies (including by providing organized public forums) and makes recommendations to the Secretary regarding methods to prevent identity theft and refund fraud.
Information sharing and analysis center
In general
The Secretary of the Treasury (or the Secretary’s delegate) may participate in an information sharing and analysis center to centralize, standardize, and enhance data compilation and analysis to facilitate sharing actionable data and information with respect to identity theft tax refund fraud.
Development of performance metrics
The Secretary of the Treasury (or the Secretary’s delegate) shall develop metrics for measuring the success of such center in detecting and preventing identity theft tax refund fraud.
Disclosure
In general
Section 6103(k) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
Disclosure of return information for purposes of cybersecurity and the prevention of identity theft tax refund fraud
In general
Under such procedures and subject to such conditions as the Secretary may prescribe, the Secretary may disclose specified return information to specified ISAC participants to the extent that the Secretary determines such disclosure is in furtherance of effective Federal tax administration relating to the detection or prevention of identity theft tax refund fraud, validation of taxpayer identity, authentication of taxpayer returns, or detection or prevention of cybersecurity threats.
Specified ISAC participants
For purposes of this paragraph—
In general
The term specified ISAC participant
means—
any person designated by the Secretary as having primary responsibility for a function performed with respect to the information sharing and analysis center described in section 403(a) of the 21st Century IRS Act, and
any person subject to the requirements of section 7216 and which is a participant in such information sharing and analysis center.
Information sharing agreement
Such term shall not include any person unless such person has entered into a written agreement with the Secretary setting forth the terms and conditions for the disclosure of information to such person under this paragraph, including requirements regarding the protection and safeguarding of such information by such person.
Specified return information
For purposes of this paragraph, the term specified return information
means—
in the case of a return which is in connection with a case of potential identity theft refund fraud—
in the case of such return filed electronically, the internet protocol address, device identification, email domain name, speed of completion, method of authentication, refund method, and such other return information related to the electronic filing characteristics of such return as the Secretary may identify for purposes of this subclause, and
in the case of such return prepared by a tax return preparer, identifying information with respect to such tax return preparer, including the preparer taxpayer identification number and electronic filer identification number of such preparer,
in the case of a return which is in connection with a case of a identity theft refund fraud which has been confirmed by the Secretary (pursuant to such procedures as the Secretary may provide), the information referred to in subclauses (I) and (II) of clause (i), the name and taxpayer identification number of the taxpayer as it appears on the return, and any bank account and routing information provided for making a refund in connection with such return, and
in the case of any cybersecurity threat to the Internal Revenue Service, information similar to the information described in subclauses (I) and (II) of clause (i) with respect to such threat.
Restriction on use of disclosed information
Designated third parties
Any return information received by a person described in subparagraph (B)(i)(I) shall be used only for the purposes of and to the extent necessary in—
performing the function such person is designated to perform under such subparagraph,
facilitating disclosures authorized under subparagraph (A) to persons described in subparagraph (B)(i)(II), and
facilitating disclosures authorized under subsection (d) to participants in such information sharing and analysis center.
Return preparers
Any return information received by a person described in subparagraph (B)(i)(II) shall be treated for purposes of section 7216 as information furnished to such person for, or in connection with, the preparation of a return of the tax imposed under chapter 1.
Data protection and safeguards
Return information disclosed under this paragraph shall be subject to such protections and safeguards as the Secretary may require in regulations or other guidance or in the written agreement referred to in subparagraph (B)(ii). Such written agreement shall include a requirement that any unauthorized access to information disclosed under this paragraph, and any breach of any system in which such information is held, be reported to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
.
Application of civil and criminal penalties
Section 6103(a)(3) is amended by striking subsection (k)(10)
and inserting paragraph (10) or (13) of subsection (k)
.
Section 7213(a)(2) is amended by inserting or (13)
after (k)(10)
.
Compliance by contractors with confidentiality safeguards
In General
Section 6103(p) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
Disclosure to contractors and other agents
Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, no return or return information shall be disclosed to any contractor or other agent of a Federal, State, or local agency unless such agency, to the satisfaction of the Secretary—
has requirements in effect which require each such contractor or other agent which would have access to returns or return information to provide safeguards (within the meaning of paragraph (4)) to protect the confidentiality of such returns or return information,
agrees to conduct an on-site review every 3 years (or a mid-point review in the case of contracts or agreements of less than 3 years in duration) of each contractor or other agent to determine compliance with such requirements,
submits the findings of the most recent review conducted under subparagraph (B) to the Secretary as part of the report required by paragraph (4)(E), and
certifies to the Secretary for the most recent annual period that such contractor or other agent is in compliance with all such requirements.
.
Conforming Amendment
Section 6103(p)(8)(B) is amended by inserting or paragraph (9)
after subparagraph (A)
.
Effective Date
The amendments made by this section shall apply to disclosures made after December 31, 2022.
Report on electronic payments
Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary (or the Secretary’s delegate), in coordination with the Bureau of Fiscal Service and the Internal Revenue Service, and in consultation with private sector financial institutions, shall submit a written report to Congress describing how the government can utilize new payment platforms to increase the number of tax refunds paid by electronic funds transfer. Such report shall weigh the interests of reducing identity theft tax refund fraud, reducing the Federal Government’s costs in delivering tax refunds, the costs and any associated fees charged to taxpayers (including monthly and point-of-service fees) to access their tax refunds, the impact on individuals who do not have access to financial accounts or institutions, and ensuring payments are made to accounts at a financial institution that complies with section 21 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, chapter 2 of title I of Public Law 91–508, and subchapter II of chapter 53 of title 31, United States Code (commonly referred to collectively as the Bank Secrecy Act
) and the USA PATRIOT Act. Such report shall include any legislative recommendations necessary to accomplish these goals.
Development of information technology
Management of Internal Revenue Service information technology
Duties and responsibilities of Internal Revenue Service Chief Information Officer
Section 7803 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
Internal Revenue Service Chief Information Officer
In general
There shall be in the Internal Revenue Service an Internal Revenue Service Chief Information Officer (hereafter referred to in this subsection as the IRS CIO
) who shall be appointed by the Administrator of the Internal Revenue Service.
Centralized responsibility for Internal Revenue Service information technology
The Administrator of the Internal Revenue Service (and the Secretary) shall act through the IRS CIO with respect to all development, implementation, and maintenance of information technology for the Internal Revenue Service. Any reference in this subsection to the IRS CIO which directs the IRS CIO to take any action, or to assume any responsibility, shall be treated as a reference to the Administrator of the Internal Revenue Service acting through the IRS CIO.
General duties and responsibilities
The IRS CIO shall—
be responsible for the development, implementation, and maintenance of information technology for the Internal Revenue Service,
ensure that the information technology of the Internal Revenue Service is secure and integrated,
maintain operational control of all information technology for the Internal Revenue Service,
be the principal advocate for the information technology needs of the Internal Revenue Service, and
consult with the Chief Procurement Officer of the Internal Revenue Service to ensure that the information technology acquired for the Internal Revenue Service is consistent with—
the goals and requirements specified in subparagraphs (A) through (D), and
the strategic plan developed under paragraph (4).
Strategic plan
In general
The IRS CIO shall develop and implement a multiyear strategic plan for the information technology needs of the Internal Revenue Service. Such plan shall—
include performance measurements of such technology and of the implementation of such plan,
include a plan for an integrated enterprise architecture of the information technology of the Internal Revenue Service,
include and take into account the resources needed to accomplish such plan,
take into account planned major acquisitions of information technology by the Internal Revenue Service, including Customer Account Data Engine 2 and the Enterprise Case Management System, and
align with the needs and strategic plan of the Internal Revenue Service.
Plan updates
The IRS CIO shall, not less frequently than annually, review and update the strategic plan under subparagraph (A) (including the plan for an integrated enterprise architecture described in subparagraph (A)(ii)) to take into account the development of new information technology and the needs of the Internal Revenue Service.
Scope of authority
Information technology
For purposes of this subsection, the term information technology
has the meaning given such term by section 11101 of title 40, United States Code.
Internal Revenue Service
Any reference in this subsection to the Internal Revenue Service includes a reference to all components of the Internal Revenue Service, including—
the Office of the Taxpayer Advocate,
the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service, and
except as otherwise provided by the Secretary with respect to information technology related to matters described in subsection (b)(3)(B), the Office of the Chief Counsel.
.
Independent verification and validation of the Customer Account Data Engine 2 and Enterprise Case Management System
In general
The Administrator of the Internal Revenue Service shall enter into a contract with an independent reviewer to verify and validate the implementation plans (including the performance milestones and cost estimates included in such plans) developed for the Customer Account Data Engine 2 and the Enterprise Case Management System.
Deadline for completion
Such contract shall require that such verification and validation be completed not later than the date which is 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Application to phases of CADE 2
In general
Paragraphs (1) and (2) shall not apply to phase 1 of the Customer Account Data Engine 2 and shall apply separately to each other phase.
Deadline for completing plans
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Internal Revenue Service shall complete the development of plans for all phases of the Customer Account Data Engine 2.
Deadline for completion of verification and validation of plans
In the case of any phase after phase 2 of the Customer Account Data Engine 2, paragraph (2) shall be applied by substituting the date on which the plan for such phase was completed
for the date of the enactment of this Act
.
Coordination of IRS CIO and Chief Procurement Officer of the Internal Revenue Service
In general
The Chief Procurement Officer of the Internal Revenue Service shall—
identify all significant IRS information technology acquisitions and provide written notification to the Internal Revenue Service Chief Information Officer (hereafter referred to in this subsection as the IRS CIO
) of each such acquisition in advance of such acquisition, and
regularly consult with the IRS CIO regarding acquisitions of information technology for the Internal Revenue Service, including meeting with the IRS CIO regarding such acquisitions upon request.
Significant IRS information technology acquisitions
For purposes of this subsection, the term significant IRS information technology acquisitions
means—
any acquisition of information technology for the Internal Revenue Service in excess of $1,000,000, and
such other acquisitions of information technology for the Internal Revenue Service (or categories of such acquisitions) as the IRS CIO, in consultation with the Chief Procurement Officer of the Internal Revenue Service, may identify.
Scope
Terms used in this subsection which are also used in section 7803(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as amended by subsection (a)) shall have the same meaning as when used in such section.
Development of online accounts and portals
In general
The Secretary of the Treasury or the Secretary’s delegate (hereafter referred to in this section as the Secretary
) shall—
develop secure individualized online accounts to provide services to taxpayers and their designated return preparers, including obtaining taxpayer information, making payment of taxes, sharing documentation, and (to the extent feasible) addressing and correcting issues, and
develop a process for the acceptance of tax forms, and supporting documentation, in digital or other electronic format.
Electronic services treated as supplemental; application of security standards
The Secretary shall ensure that the processes described in subsection (a)—
are a supplement to, and not a replacement for, other services provided by the Internal Revenue Service to taxpayers, including face-to-face taxpayer assistance and services provided by phone, and
comply with applicable security standards and guidelines.
Process for developing online accounts
Development of plan
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a written report describing the Secretary’s plan for developing the secure individualized online accounts described in subsection (a)(1). Such plan shall address the feasibility of taxpayers addressing and correcting issues through such accounts and whether access to such accounts should be restricted and in what manner.
Deadline
The Secretary shall make every reasonable effort to make the secure individualized online accounts described in subsection (a)(1) available to taxpayers by December 31, 2023.
Internet platform for Form 1099 filings
In general
Not later than January 1, 2023, the Secretary of the Treasury or the Secretary’s delegate (hereafter referred to in this section as the Secretary
) shall make available an Internet website or other electronic media, with a user interface and functionality similar to the Business Services Online Suite of Services provided by the Social Security Administration, that will provide access to resources and guidance provided by the Internal Revenue Service and will allow persons to—
prepare and file Forms 1099,
prepare Forms 1099 for distribution to recipients other than the Internal Revenue Service, and
maintain a record of completed and submitted Forms 1099.
Electronic services treated as supplemental; application of security standards
The Secretary shall ensure that the services described in subsection (a)—
are a supplement to, and not a replacement for, other services provided by the Internal Revenue Service to taxpayers, and
comply with applicable security standards and guidelines.
Modernization of consent-based income verification system
Disclosure of taxpayer information for third-party income verification
In general
Not later than 1 year after the close of the 2-year period described in subsection (d)(1), the Secretary of the Treasury or the Secretary’s delegate (hereafter referred to in this section as the Secretary
) shall implement a program to ensure that any qualified disclosure—
is fully automated and accomplished through the Internet, and
is accomplished in as close to real-time as is practicable.
Qualified disclosure
For purposes of this section, the term qualified disclosure means a disclosure under section 6103(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 of returns or return information by the Secretary to a person seeking to verify the income or creditworthiness of a taxpayer who is a borrower in the process of a loan application.
Application of security standards
The Secretary shall ensure that the program described in subsection (a) complies with applicable security standards and guidelines.
User fee
In general
During the 2-year period beginning on the first day of the 6th calendar month beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall assess and collect a fee for qualified disclosures (in addition to any other fee assessed and collected for such disclosures) at such rates as the Secretary determines are sufficient to cover the costs related to implementing the program described in subsection (a), including the costs of any necessary infrastructure or technology.
Deposit of collections
Amounts received from fees assessed and collected under paragraph (1) shall be deposited in, and credited to, an account solely for the purpose of carrying out the activities described in subsection (a). Such amounts shall be available to carry out such activities without need of further appropriation and without fiscal year limitation.
Limit redisclosures and uses of consent-based disclosures of tax return information
In general
Section 6103(c) is amended by adding at the end the following: Persons designated by the taxpayer under this subsection to receive return information shall not use the information for any purpose other than the express purpose for which consent was granted and shall not disclose return information to any other person without the express permission of, or request by, the taxpayer.
.
Application of penalties
Section 6103(a)(3) is amended by inserting subsection (c),
after return information under
.
Effective date
The amendments made by this section shall apply to disclosures made after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Expanded use of electronic systems
Electronic filing of returns
In general
Section 6011(e)(2)(A) is amended by striking 250
and inserting the applicable number of
.
Applicable number
Section 6011(e) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
Applicable number
For purposes of paragraph (2)(A), the applicable number shall be determined in accordance with the following table:
in the case of calendar years before 2020, 250,
in the case of calendar year 2020, 100, and
in the case of calendar years after 2020, 10.
.
Returns filed by a tax return preparer
Section 6011(e)(3) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
Exception for certain preparers located in areas without internet access
The Secretary may waive the requirement of subparagraph (A) if the Secretary determines, on the basis of an application by the tax return preparer, that the preparer cannot meet such requirement by reason of being located in a geographic area which does not have access to internet service (other than dial-up or satellite service).
.
Effective date
The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.
Uniform standards for the use of electronic signatures for disclosure authorizations to, and other authorizations of, practitioners
Section 6061(b)(3) is amended to read as follows:
Published guidance
In general
The Secretary shall publish guidance as appropriate to define and implement any waiver of the signature requirements or any method adopted under paragraph (1).
Electronic signatures for disclosure authorizations to, and other authorizations of, practitioners
Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this subparagraph, the Secretary shall publish guidance to establish uniform standards and procedures for the acceptance of taxpayers’ signatures appearing in electronic form with respect to any request for disclosure of a taxpayer's return or return information under section 6103(c) to a practitioner or any power of attorney granted by a taxpayer to a practitioner.
Practitioner
For purposes of subparagraph (B), the term practitioner means any individual in good standing who is regulated under section 330 of title 31, United States Code.
.
Payment of taxes by debit and credit cards
Section 6311(d)(2) is amended by adding at the end the following: The preceding sentence shall not apply to the extent that the Secretary ensures that any such fee or other consideration is fully recouped by the Secretary in the form of fees paid to the Secretary by persons paying taxes imposed under subtitle A with credit, debit, or charge cards pursuant to such contract. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the Secretary shall seek to minimize the amount of any fee or other consideration that the Secretary pays under any such contract.
.
April 13, 2018
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
