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H.R.5716 / 110th Congress

Taxpayer Bill of Rights Act of 2008

Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Apr 8, 2008

Taxpayer Bill of Rights Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require the Secretary of the Treasury to publish a summary statement of specified taxpayer rights and obligations.

Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) make grants to provide matching funds for qualified return preparation programs that provide volunteer income tax preparation assistance to low-income taxpayers; and (2) refer such taxpayers to taxpayer clinics funded by the federal government.

Requires the Secretary to establish a system for regulating and testing federal income tax return preparers.

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Requires refund loan facilitators to file annual registrations with the Secretary and to make certain disclosures to borrowers about refund anticipation loans.

Expands and increases penalties on tax return preparers for understating taxpayer liabilities.

Requires the Secretary to furnish to the public the identity of enrolled agents and registered refund loan facilitators.

Permits enrolled agents licensed to practice before the Department of the Treasury to use the designation "enrolled agent," "EA," or "E.A."

Expresses the sense of Congress that the IRS should provide certain expanded services to taxpayers.

Authorizes the Secretary to award demonstration project grants to eligible entitites to provide bank accounts to taxpayers who currently do not have an account with a financial institution.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
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Who introduced it

Rep. Becerra, Xavier [D-CA-31] · D–CA

Committees

  • Financial Services Committee
  • Ways and Means Committee
12 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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  1. Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  2. Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  3. Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  4. Introduced in House

  5. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Aug 14, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

Explore the bill from different angles

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.5716 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

Examine H.R.5716 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.5716 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.5716 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

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