I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1813 
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to tax bona fide residents 
of the District of Columbia in the same manner as bona fide residents 
of possessions of the United States. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 15, 2015 
Mr. GOHMERT 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 tax bona 
fide residents of the District of Columbia in the same 
manner as bona fide residents of possessions of the 
United States. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘No Taxation Without 
Representation Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds the following: 
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(1) The phrase ‘‘no taxation without represen-
tation’’ was a rallying cry of many American colo-
nists during the period of British rule in the 1760s 
and early 1770s. The slogan gained widespread no-
toriety after the passage of the Sugar Act on April 
5, 1764. 
(2) American colonists increasingly resented 
being levied taxes without having actual legislators 
seated and voting in Parliament in London. The 
idea that there should be no taxation without rep-
resentation dated back even further. Benjamin 
Franklin stated, ‘‘it is suppos’d an undoubted Right 
of Englishmen not to be taxed but by their own Con-
sent given thro’ their Representatives.’’. 
(3) This issue became even more defined in 
1765 with the passage of the Stamp Act which was 
the first true attempt to levy a direct tax on the 
American colonies. Ultimately the tax was repealed, 
but the idea of no taxation without representation 
persisted. 
(4) Article I, section 2, clause 1 of the United 
States Constitution, states, ‘‘The House of Rep-
resentatives shall be composed of Members chosen 
every second Year by the People of the several 
States, and the Electors in each State shall have the 
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Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most nu-
merous Branch of the State Legislature.’’. 
(5) The Organic Act of 1801 placed Wash-
ington, DC, under the exclusive jurisdiction of the 
United States Congress and people in the District 
were no longer considered residents of Virginia or 
Maryland. 
(6) Many in Washington, DC, were immediately 
opposed to the idea of being taxed without congres-
sional representation and over the years several con-
gressional leaders introduced constitutional amend-
ments to give the District of Columbia voting rep-
resentation, though none were successful. 
(7) In 1898, Puerto Rico was acquired by the 
United States and currently has a Resident Commis-
sioner with limited voting rights. Section 933 of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 exempts bona fide 
citizens who are residents of Puerto Rico for the en-
tire taxable year from Federal taxes on income 
earned in Puerto Rico. 
(8) On March 31, 1917, the United States took 
possession of the Virgin Islands and in 1927, the 
territory’s residents were granted citizenship. Under 
section 932 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 
individuals who are bona fide residents of the United 
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Guam, and Northern Mariana Islands, but are sub-
ject to Federal taxes on income earned elsewhere. 
(12) In keeping with the early history and 
democratic traditions of the United States, the prin-
ciples established in the Constitution, and in con-
formance with the other territories of the United 
States which have delegates but no Representative, 
the residents of the District of Columbia should be 
exempt from paying United States Federal income 
taxes. 
SEC. 3. EXCLUSION FROM GROSS INCOME FOR INCOME 
FROM SOURCES WITHIN THE DISTRICT OF 
COLUMBIA. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subpart D of part III of sub-
chapter N of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new 
section: 
‘‘SEC. 938. INCOME FROM SOURCES WITHIN THE DISTRICT 
OF COLUMBIA. 
‘‘(a) GENERAL RULE.—In the case of an individual 
who is a bona fide resident of the District of Columbia 
during the entire taxable year, gross income shall not in-
clude— 
‘‘(1) income derived from sources within the 
District of Columbia, and 
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‘‘(2) income effectively connected with the con-
duct of a trade or business by such individual within 
the District of Columbia. 
‘‘(b) DEDUCTIONS, ETC. ALLOCABLE TO EXCLUDED 
AMOUNTS NOT ALLOWABLE.—An individual shall not be 
allowed— 
‘‘(1) as a deduction from gross income any de-
ductions (other than the deduction under section 
151, relating to personal exemptions), or 
‘‘(2) any credit, properly allocable or chargeable 
against amounts excluded from gross income under 
this section. 
‘‘(c) BONA FIDE RESIDENT AND OTHER APPLICA-
BLE RULES.—For purposes of this section, rules similar 
to the rules of section 876, 937, 957(c), 3401(a)(8)(D), 
and 7654 shall apply.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
for subpart D of part III of subchapter N of chapter 1 
of such Code is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new item: 
‘‘Sec. 938. Income from sources within the District of Columbia.’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall apply to taxable years ending after the 
date of the enactment of this Act. 
Æ 
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