Combat-Injured Veterans Tax Fairness Act of 2016

To restore amounts improperly withheld for tax purposes from severance payments to individuals who retired or separated from service in the Armed Forces for combat-related injuries, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Combat-Injured Veterans Tax Fairness Act of 2016 2. Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) Approximately 10,000 to 11,000 individuals are retired from service in the Armed Forces for medical reasons each year. (2) Some of such individuals are separated from service in the Armed Forces for combat-related injuries (as defined in section 104(b)(3) (3) Congress has recognized the tremendous personal sacrifice of veterans with combat-related injuries by, among other things, specifically excluding from taxable income severance pay received for combat-related injuries. (4) Since 1991, the Secretary of Defense has improperly withheld taxes from severance pay for wounded veterans, thus denying them their due compensation and a significant benefit intended by Congress. (5) Many veterans owed redress are beyond the statutory period to file an amended tax return because they were not or are not aware that taxes were improperly withheld. 3. Restoration of amounts improperly withheld for tax purposes from severance payments to veterans with combat-related injuries (a) In general Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall— (1) identify— (A) the severance payments— (i) that the Secretary paid after January 17, 1991; (ii) that the Secretary computed under section 1212 of title 10, United States Code; (iii) that were not considered gross income pursuant to section 104(a)(4) (iv) from which the Secretary withheld amounts for tax purposes; and (B) the individuals to whom such severance payments were made; and (2) with respect to each person identified under paragraph (1)(B), provide— (A) notice of— (i) the amount of severance payments in paragraph (1)(A) which were improperly withheld for tax purposes; and (ii) such other information determined to be necessary by the Secretary of Treasury to carry out the purposes of this section; and (B) instructions for filing amended tax returns to recover the amounts improperly withheld for tax purposes. (b) Extension of limitation on time for credit or refund (1) Period for filing claim If a claim for credit or refund under section 6511(a) (2) Specified overpayment For purposes of paragraph (1), the term specified overpayment 4. Requirement that Secretary of Defense ensure amounts are not withheld for tax purposes from severance payments not considered gross income The Secretary of Defense shall take such actions as may be necessary to ensure that amounts are not withheld for tax purposes from severance payments made by the Secretary to individuals when such payments are not considered gross income pursuant to section 104(a)(4) 5. Report to Congress (a) In general After completing the identification required by section 3(a) and not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the actions taken by the Secretary to carry out this Act. (b) Contents The report submitted under subsection (a) shall include the following: (1) The number of individuals identified under section 3(a)(1)(B). (2) Of all the severance payments described in section 3(a)(1)(A), the aggregate amount that the Secretary withheld for tax purposes from such payments. (3) A description of the actions the Secretary plans to take to carry out section 4. (c) Appropriate committees of Congress defined In this section, the term appropriate committees of Congress (1) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and the Committee on Finance of the Senate; and (2) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives.

Summary: Combat-Injured Veterans Tax Fairness Act of 2016 This bill directs the Department of Defense (DOD) to identify: certain severance payments to veterans with combat-related injuries paid after January 17, 1991, from which DOD withheld amounts for tax purposes, and the individuals to whom such severance payments were made. DOD shall provide each such veteran with: notice of the amount of improperly withheld severance payments, and instructions for filing amended tax returns to recover such amount. The period for filing a related claim with the Internal Revenue Service for a credit or refund is extended beyond the three-year limitation to the date that is one year after DOD provides the veteran with the information required by this Act. DOD shall ensure that amounts are not withheld for tax purposes from DOD severance payments to individuals when such payments are not considered gross income.