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 Caro-
lina, 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 Colo-
rado, 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-
viduals to designate $3 or more on their income tax
returns to be used to reduce the public debt.
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 ‘‘Taxpayers’ Choice
Debt Reduction Act’’.
SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF INCOME TAX PAYMENTS TO RE-
DUCE PUBLIC DEBT.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter A of chapter 61 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to returns and
records) is amended by adding at the end the following
new part:
‘‘PART IX—DESIGNATION OF IN-
COME TAX PAYMENTS TO RE-
DUCE PUBLIC DEBT
‘‘Sec. 6097. Designation by individuals.
‘‘SEC. 6097. DESIGNATION BY INDIVIDUALS.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Every individual (other than a
nonresident alien) whose income tax liability for the tax-
able year is $3 or more may designate that $3 shall be
used to reduce the public debt of the United States. In
the case of a joint return of husband and wife having an
income tax liability of $6 or more, each spouse may des-
ignate that $3 shall be so used.
‘‘(b) INCOME TAX LIABILITY.—For purposes of sub-
section (a), the income tax liability of an individual for
any taxable year is the amount of the tax imposed by
chapter 1 on such individual for such taxable year (as
shown on his return), reduced by the sum of the credits
(as shown in his return) allowable under part IV of sub-
chapter A of chapter 1 (other than subpart C thereof).
‘‘(c) MANNER AND TIME OF DESIGNATION.—A des-
ignation under subsection (a) may be made with respect
to any taxable year—
‘‘(1) at the time of filing the return of the tax
imposed by chapter 1 for such taxable year, or
‘‘(2) at any other time (after the time of filing
the return of the tax imposed by chapter 1 for such
taxable year) specified in regulations prescribed by
the Secretary.
Such designation shall be made in such manner as the
Secretary prescribes by regulations except that, if such
designation is made at the time of filing the return of the
tax imposed by chapter 1 for such taxable year, such des-
ignation shall be made either on the first page of the re-
turn or on the page bearing the taxpayer’s signature.’’
(b) TRANSFER OF DESIGNATED AMOUNTS FOR PUB-
LIC DEBT REDUCTION.—The Secretary of the Treasury
shall, from time to time, transfer to the special account
described in section 3113(d) of title 31, United States
Code, the amounts designated under section 6097 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to be used to reduce the
public debt of the United States.
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of parts for
subchapter A of chapter 61 of such Code is amended by
adding at the end the following new item:
‘‘Part IX. Designation of income tax payments to reduce public
debt.’’
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after
December 31, 2000.
Æ