Text of H.R. 6616 (115th): Everyday Philanthropist Act (Introduced version)

Summary of this bill

Americans donated $410 billion to charity last year, but would you like to receive a tax break for donating to charity?

Only one-third of Americans are right now. This bill could change that.

Context

Under current law, only Americans who itemize their tax returns are eligible to receive tax breaks for donating to charities or nonprofits. Those who take the standard deduction instead are generally ineligible.

The problem is that the people who itemize their returns skew much wealthier. Only one-third of Americans itemize.

“Under our current tax code, only taxpayers in the highest tax brackets are encouraged to give back,” the Greater Give writes. “This system establishes …

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 6616

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 26, 2018

Mr. Paulsen (for himself, Mr. Gallagher, Mr. Walberg, Mr. Pocan, Mrs. Bustos, and Mr. Bera) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

A BILL

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for flexible giving accounts, and for other purposes.

This Act may be cited as the Everyday Philanthropist Act.

(a)

Subsection (a) of section 132 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking or at the end of paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end of paragraph (8) and inserting , or, and by inserting after paragraph (8) the following:

(9)

flexible giving account.

(b)

Section 132 of such Code is amended by redesignating subsection (o) as subsection (p) and by inserting after subsection (n) the following:

(o)

(1)

(A)

For purposes of this subsection, a flexible giving account is an account under an arrangement which is a separate written plan of an employer for the exclusive benefit of all eligible employees under which—

(i)

an employee may elect—

(I)

to receive a reduction in compensation and have the employer deposit the amount of the reduction in a flexible giving account of the electing employee, and

(II)

before the reduction under subclause (I), to designate one or more entities to which distributions are to be made from the account,

(ii)

the employer, as soon after the deposit under clause (i)(I) as practicable, makes the disbursements designated under clause (i),

(iii)

the employer provides reasonable notification of the availability and terms of the arrangement to all eligible employees,

(iv)

the employer maintains a separate flexible giving account on behalf of each employee for whom an election is in effect clause (i), and

(v)

the employer agrees to furnish to each participating employee, on or before January 31 of each year, a written accounting of the employee’s flexible giving account showing deposits and disbursements during the previous calendar year.

(B)

The amount of a reduction under subparagraph (A) for a taxable year shall not exceed $5,000.

(2)

For purposes of this subsection—

(A)

(i)

The term eligible employee means, with respect to a flexible giving account, any employee who is not a highly compensated or key employee and who is eligible to participate in the arrangement.

(ii)

The term highly compensated employee has the meaning given such term by section 414(q).

(iii)

The term key employee has the meaning given such term by section 416(i).

(B)

For purposes of subparagraph (A), an employer may elect to exclude under the arrangement described in paragraph (1) any employee who—

(i)

has not attained the age of 21 before the close of a plan year of the arrangement,

(ii)

has less than 1 year of service with the employer as of any day during the plan year, and

(iii)

is described in section 410(b)(3)(C) (relating to nonresident aliens working outside the United States).

(C)

An arrangement may provide a shorter period of service or younger age for purposes of subparagraph (B).

(3)

(A)

Any distribution from a flexible giving account shall be includible in the gross income of the distributee in the manner as provided in section 72.

(B)

(i)

Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to any distribution which is a charitable contribution made pursuant to paragraph (1).

(ii)

Distributions from the flexible giving account of an employee—

(I)

shall be treated as a charitable contribution of the employee,

(II)

shall not be taken into account under section 170(a) (relating to allowance of deduction), but

(III)

shall be taken into account under section 170(b) (relating to percentage limitation).

(C)

The tax imposed by this chapter for any taxable year on any taxpayer from whose flexible giving account a distribution is made that is includible in gross income shall be increased by 20 percent of the amount which is so includible.

(D)

No distribution shall be excluded from the gross income under subparagraph (B) unless the taxpayer provides on the return of tax the name and address of the entity to whom the distribution is made. In the case of a failure to provide the information required by the preceding sentence, the preceding sentence shall not apply if it is shown that the taxpayer exercised due diligence in attempting to provide the information so required.

(4)

For purposes of this section, the term charitable contribution has the meaning given such term by section 170(c), except that such term irrevocable transfers of funds and not just a pledges or agreement to make a transfer in the future.

(c)

The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.

H.R. 6616 (115^th): Everyday Philanthropist Act

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