I

106TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 5349

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals to designate

$3 or more on their income tax returns to be used to reduce the

public debt.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SEPTEMBER 29, 2000

Mr. SANFORD (for himself, Mr. BACHUS, Mr. BALDACCI, Mr. BARTLETT of

Maryland, Mr. BARTON of Texas, Mrs. BIGGERT, Mr. BILBRAY, Mr.

BOUCHER, Mr. BRYANT, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Mr. CAMPBELL, Mrs.

CAPPS, Mr. CLEMENT, Mr. COBURN, Mr. CONDIT, Mr. CRANE, Mr.

CUNNINGHAM, Mr. DEAL of Georgia, Mr. DELAHUNT, Mr. DEMINT, Mr.

DICKEY, Mr. DOYLE, Mr. DUNCAN, Ms. ESHOO, Mr. EVERETT, Mr.

EWING, Mr. GORDON, Mr. GRAHAM, Mr. GREEN of Texas, Mr. GREEN

of Wisconsin, Mr. HALL of Texas, Mr. HAYWORTH, Mr. HERGER, Mr.

HILL of Indiana, Mr. HOEKSTRA, Ms. HOOLEY of Oregon, Mr.

HOSTETTLER, Mr. HUTCHINSON, Mr. JOHN, Mr. JONES of North Carolina, Mr. KINGSTON, Mr. LARGENT, Mr. LATOURETTE, Mr. LEWIS of

Kentucky, Mr. LINDER, Mr. MANZULLO, Ms. MCCARTHY of Missouri,

Mr. MCINTOSH, Mr. MCCRERY, Mr. METCALF, Mr. MICA, Mr. GARY

MILLER of California, Mr. MINGE, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mrs. MYRICK,

Mr. ORTIZ, Mr. PAUL, Mr. PICKERING, Mr. PITTS, Mr. PORTMAN, Mr.

RILEY, Mr. ROYCE, Mr. RYUN of Kansas, Mr. SALMON, Mr. SANDLIN,

Mr. SCHAFFER, Mr. SESSIONS, Mr. SHADEGG, Mr. SMITH of Texas, Mr.

SMITH of Michigan, Mr. SOUDER, Mr. STENHOLM, Mr. TANCREDO, Mr.

TERRY, Mr. THOMPSON of California, Mr. TOOMEY, Mr. UDALL of Colorado, Mr. VITTER, Mr. WAMP, Mr. WATKINS, Mr. WELDON of Florida,

and Mr. WICKER) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the

Committee on Ways and Means

A BILL

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow indi-
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viduals to designate $3 or more on their income tax

returns to be used to reduce the public debt.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Taxpayers’ Choice

5 Debt Reduction Act’’.

6 SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF INCOME TAX PAYMENTS TO RE7 DUCE PUBLIC DEBT.

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter A of chapter 61 of the

9 Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to returns and

10 records) is amended by adding at the end the following

11 new part:

12 ‘‘PART IX—DESIGNATION OF IN13 COME TAX PAYMENTS TO RE14 DUCE PUBLIC DEBT

‘‘Sec. 6097. Designation by individuals.

15 ‘‘SEC. 6097. DESIGNATION BY INDIVIDUALS.

16 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Every individual (other than a

17 nonresident alien) whose income tax liability for the tax18 able year is $3 or more may designate that $3 shall be

19 used to reduce the public debt of the United States. In

20 the case of a joint return of husband and wife having an

21 income tax liability of $6 or more, each spouse may des22 ignate that $3 shall be so used.
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1 ‘‘(b) INCOME TAX LIABILITY.—For purposes of sub2 section (a), the income tax liability of an individual for

3 any taxable year is the amount of the tax imposed by

4 chapter 1 on such individual for such taxable year (as

5 shown on his return), reduced by the sum of the credits

6 (as shown in his return) allowable under part IV of sub7 chapter A of chapter 1 (other than subpart C thereof).

8 ‘‘(c) MANNER AND TIME OF DESIGNATION.—A des9 ignation under subsection (a) may be made with respect

10 to any taxable year—

11 ‘‘(1) at the time of filing the return of the tax

12 imposed by chapter 1 for such taxable year, or

13 ‘‘(2) at any other time (after the time of filing

14 the return of the tax imposed by chapter 1 for such

15 taxable year) specified in regulations prescribed by

16 the Secretary.

17 Such designation shall be made in such manner as the

18 Secretary prescribes by regulations except that, if such

19 designation is made at the time of filing the return of the

20 tax imposed by chapter 1 for such taxable year, such des21 ignation shall be made either on the first page of the re22 turn or on the page bearing the taxpayer’s signature.’’

23 (b) TRANSFER OF DESIGNATED AMOUNTS FOR PUB24 LIC DEBT REDUCTION.—The Secretary of the Treasury

25 shall, from time to time, transfer to the special account
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1 described in section 3113(d) of title 31, United States

2 Code, the amounts designated under section 6097 of the

3 Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to be used to reduce the

4 public debt of the United States.

5 (c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of parts for

6 subchapter A of chapter 61 of such Code is amended by

7 adding at the end the following new item:

‘‘Part IX. Designation of income tax payments to reduce public

debt.’’

8 (d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by

9 this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after

10 December 31, 2000.

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