PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.

Taxpayer Bill of Rights Enhancement Act of 2015

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jun 16, 2015

Taxpayer Bill of Rights Enhancement Act of 2015

Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to provisions affecting taxpayer rights, to:

direct the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to ensure that its employees are familiar with and act in accord with enumerated taxpayer rights;

Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.

Read full official summaryShow less

increase criminal and civil penalties for unauthorized disclosure or inspection of taxpayer information and allow punitive damages for willful unauthorized inspection or disclosure;

prohibit the disclosure of taxpayer information to any contractor or other agent of a governmental entity without appropriate safeguards;

increase the limit on civil damages for unauthorized acts by IRS employees and allow punitive damages for IRS employees who act recklessly and intentionally;

extend to two years the time limit for contesting a tax levy or for seeking a return of wrongfully-levied property;

allow tax-exempt organizations to obtain a declaratory judgment with respect to their initial or continuing tax-exempt status;

permit the waiver of user fees for taxpayers who agree to automated installment payments;

allow the beneficiary of an individual retirement account to re-contribute to such an account amounts that have been wrongfully-levied without regard to contribution limits;

grant the Department of the Treasury discretion in requiring an opinion of the General Counsel on any compromise of tax liability;

require Treasury to submit any proposed or temporary regulation to the National Taxpayer Advocate for comment;

raise exemption limits applicable to individual and corporate taxpayers required to make estimated tax payments;

permit the disclosure of collection activities relating to a joint account upon the oral request of either spouse (currently, a written request is required);

authorize Treasury to disclose taxpayer information for purposes of paying a tax refund by using any means of mass communication, including the Internet;

authorize Treasury to disclose certain information about an investigation of possible violations of internal revenue laws; and

require tax-exempt organizations to file their tax returns in electronic form.

Amends the Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998 to require: (1) the termination of any IRS employee for performing, delaying, or failing to perform (or threatening to perform, delay, or fail to perform) any official action (including an audit) for purposes of extracting personal gain or benefit or for a political purpose; and (2) at least one IRS appeals officer and one settlement officer to be located and permanently available in each state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

Requires IRS email records to be retained: (1) in an appropriate electronic system that supports records management and litigation requirements, and (2) for a 15-year period after such email records are generated. Prohibits an IRS officer or employee from using a personal email account to conduct official business.

Provides that the 10% penalty for failure to make a timely deposit of taxes shall not apply to taxpayers who have made a timely deposit but not in the manner required by law.

Directs the IRS to maintain a program that provides free tax and electronic filing services to low-income and elderly taxpayers.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

Who introduced it

Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA] · R–IA

Committees

  • Finance Committee
3 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. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

  2. Introduced in Senate

Bill text & related measures

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

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Aug 12, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.1578 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.

View full prompt & sources
Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.1578 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.

View full prompt & sources
Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.1578 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.

View full prompt & sources
Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.1578 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.

View full prompt & sources