I
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3330
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 18, 2019
Mr. Yoho (for himself, Mr. Panetta, and Ms. DelBene) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
A BILL
To set minimum standards for tax return preparers.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Taxpayer Protection and Preparer Proficiency Act of 2019
.
Regulation of tax return preparers
In general
Subsection (a) of section 330 of title 31, United States Code, is amended—
by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
regulate—
the practice of representatives of persons before the Department of the Treasury; and
the practice of tax return preparers; and
; and
in paragraph (2)—
by inserting or a tax return preparer to prepare tax returns
after practice
;
by inserting or tax return preparer
before demonstrate
; and
by inserting or in preparing their tax returns, claims for refund, or documents in connection with tax returns or claims for refund
after cases
in subparagraph (D).
Authority To sanction regulated tax return preparers
Subsection (c) of section 330 of title 31, United States Code, is amended—
by striking before the Department
;
by inserting or tax return preparer
after representative
each place it appears; and
in paragraph (4), by striking misleads or threatens
and all that follows and inserting
misleads or threatens—
any person being represented or any prospective person being represented; or
any person or prospective person whose tax return, claim for refund, or document in connection with a tax return or claim for refund, is being or may be prepared.
.
Minimum competency standards for tax return preparers
Section 330 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
Tax return preparers
In general
Any tax return preparer shall demonstrate minimum competency standards under this subsection by—
obtaining an identifying number for securing proper identification of such preparer as described in section 6109(a)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
satisfying any examination and annual continuing education requirements as prescribed by the Secretary; and
completing a background check administered by the Secretary.
Exemption
The Secretary shall exempt tax return preparers who have been subject to comparable examination, continuing education requirements, and background checks administered by the Secretary or any comparable State licensing program. Such exemption shall extend directly to individuals who are supervised by such preparers and are not required to secure an identification number under section 6109(a)(4).
.
Tax return preparer defined
Section 330 of title 31, United States Code, as amended by subsection (c), is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
Tax return preparer
For purposes of this section—
In general
The term tax return preparer has the meaning given such term under section 7701(a)(36) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
Tax return
The term tax return has the meaning given to the term return under section 6696(e)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
Claim for refund
The term claim for refund has the meaning given such term under section 6696(e)(2) of such Code.
.
Amendments with respect to identifying number
In general
Section 6109(a) is amended by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following:
Furnishing identifying number of tax return preparer
In general
Any return or claim for refund prepared by a tax return preparer shall bear such identifying number for securing proper identification of such preparer, his employer, or both, as may be prescribed. For purposes of this paragraph, the terms return and claim for refund have the respective meanings given to such terms by section 6696(e).
Exception
Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to any tax return preparer who prepares a return or claim for refund under the supervision and direction of a tax return preparer who signs the return or claim for refund and is a certified public accountant, an attorney or enrolled agent.
.
Clarification of rescission authority
Section 6109 is amended by inserting after subsection (d) the following new subsection:
Authority To rescind identifying number of tax return preparer
In general
The Secretary may rescind an identifying number issued under subsection (a)(4) if—
after notice and opportunity for a hearing, the preparer is shown to be incompetent or disreputable (as such terms are used in subsection (c) of section 330 of title 31, United States Code); and
rescinding the identifying number would promote compliance with the requirements of this title and effective tax administration.
Records
If an identifying number is rescinded under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall place in the file in the Office of the Director of Professional Responsibility the opinion of the Secretary with respect to the determination, including—
a statement of the facts and circumstances relating to the determination; and
the reasons for the rescission.
.
GAO study and report on the exchange of information between the IRS and State taxation authorities
In general
Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall conduct a study and submit to Congress a report on the sharing of information between the Secretary of the Treasury and State authorities, as authorized under section 6103(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, regarding identification numbers issued to paid tax return preparers and return preparer minimum standards.
Increased information sharing
The study and report described in paragraph (1) shall include an analysis of the impact that increased information sharing between Federal and State authorities would have on efforts to enforce minimum standards on paid tax return preparers.
