PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.

Small Business Taxpayer Bill of Rights Act of 2018

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2219-2222; text of measure as introduced: CR S2219-2222)

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Apr 17, 2018

Small Business Taxpayer Bill of Rights Act of 2018

This bill modifies various tax enforcement procedures and requirements that affect small businesses and other taxpayers.

The bill modifies requirements regarding:

awarding costs and fees to small businesses for administrative and court proceedings,

the amounts of damages and penalties that are allowed for violating various tax laws,

dispute resolution and appeal procedures,

enforcing liens against principal residences,

terminating Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employees for misconduct,

reviews by the Department of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and

the release of an IRS levy due to economic hardship for business taxpayers.

The bill also:

allows a tax deduction for a portion of a taxpayer's expenses for certain audits,

prohibits ex parte communications between officers in the IRS Office of Appeals and other IRS employees with respect to matters pending before the officers,

establishes a 10-year term for the National Taxpayer Advocate, and

repeals the requirement to submit a partial payment with an offer-in-compromise to settle a tax liability.

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. Cornyn, John [R-TX] · R–TX

Committees

  • Finance Committee
2 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. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2219-2222; text of measure as introduced: CR S2219-2222)

  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

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

Source last updated: Aug 11, 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.2689 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.2689 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.2689 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.2689 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