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H.R.4163 / 106th Congress

Taxpayer Bill of Rights 2000

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Apr 4, 2000

Taxpayer Bill of Rights 2000 - Title I: Penalties and Interest - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to move the failure to pay tax estimated tax penalty provisions from chapter 68 (Additions to the Tax, Additional Amounts, and Assessable Penalties) to chapter 67 (Determination of Interest Rate; Compounding of Interest) of the IRC while converting such current tax penalty provisions into interest provisions. Exempts from the interest penalty an underpayment of less than $2,000.(Sec. 102) Excludes from gross income interest paid on any tax overpayment.(Sec. 103) Repeals the failure-to-pay penalty. Imposes a five percent service charge for late-paying taxpayers not entering into an installment agreement.(Sec. 104) Permits the abatement of interest if a gross injustice would otherwise result.(Sec. 105) Permits making cash bond deposits to offset potential tax underpayments.Title II: Confidentiality and Disclosure - Makes the IRC the exclusive law governing the disclosure of returns and return information. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe related regulations. Sets forth related rules.(Sec. 202) Revises provisions concerning the definition of "Chief Counsel advice."(Sec. 203) Eliminates the requirement that a former spouse must make a written request to obtain collection information from a joint return.(Sec. 204) Prohibits examining the return of the representative of a taxpayer solely on the basis of the representative relationship.(Sec. 205) Limits disclosure of a nonparty's return information to that information relating to the resolution of a proceeding.(Sec. 206) Prohibits the public disclosure of a taxpayer's address and tax identification number with respect to accepted offers-in-compromise.(Sec. 207) Prohibits the disclosure of returns and return information to contractors unless specified requirements are met, including an annual review of a contractor to determine compliance.(Sec. 208) Establishes additional consent-to-disclose requirements, including requiring that such a consent designate a specific recipient.(Sec. 209) Requires a taxpayer to be notified by the Secretary if it is determined that the taxpayer's return has been disclosed without authorization.(Sec. 210) Permits the Secretary to use any means of mass communication to notify a taxpayer of an undelivered refund.Title III: Other Requirements - Exempts from the church-tax-inquiry provisions information disclosures related to tax exemption standards.(Sec. 302) Expands the availability of declaratory judgment procedures to tax-exempt organizations.(Sec. 303) Requires the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration's semi-annual report to list the ten most common employee misconduct complaints by category.(Sec. 304) Doubles the threshold for reporting refunds to the Joint Committee on Taxation.(Sec. 305) Requires reports concerning: (1) awards of costs and fees in administrative court proceedings; (2) penalty abatement; and (3) alternative means of communicating with taxpayers.

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Who introduced it

Rep. Houghton, Amo [R-NY-31] · R–NY

Committees

  • Finance Committee
  • Ways and Means Committee
30 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

  1. Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

  2. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  3. On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 424 - 0 (Roll no. 116). (text: CR H2057-2062)

    House roll call 116 · Individual votes
  4. Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 424 - 0 (Roll no. 116).(text: CR H2057-2062)

    House roll call 116 · Individual votes
  5. Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2079)

  6. At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

  7. DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4163.

  8. Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2057-2069)

  9. Mr. Archer moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  10. Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 311.

  11. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 106-566.

  12. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 106-566.

  13. Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

  14. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  15. Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

  16. Introduced in House

  17. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

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Related bills identified by Congress.gov

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Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.4163 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

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Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

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Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

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