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Government Settlement Transparency Act of 2005

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S11566-11567)

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Oct 19, 2005

Government Settlement Transparency Act of 2005 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise the rule denying a tax deduction for fines and penalties paid to a government for the violation of any law to provide that no deduction shall be allowed for any fine or penalty paid (whether by suit, agreement, or otherwise) to, or at the direction of, a government or nongovernmental regulatory entity for a violation of law or for the investigation or inquiry by such government or entity into a potential violation of any law.

Allows exceptions to the general rule of nondeductibility for: (1) certain restitution payments or payments required to come into compliance with law; (2) court-ordered payments not involving a government or nongovernmental regulatory entity; and (3) amounts paid or incurred as taxes due.

Requires governmental agencies involved in a settlement with a taxpayer to report to the Secretary of the Treasury and the taxpayer information about such settlement, including the amount of the settlement, the amount paid as restitution or remediation of property, and the amount paid to come into compliance with law.

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Who introduced it

Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT] · D–MT

Committees

  • Finance Committee
3 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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  1. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S11566-11567)

  2. Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S11565-11566)

  3. 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

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Source last updated: Aug 15, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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