Title: Transparency for Taxpayers Act
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
Transparency for Taxpayers Act
This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to make publicly available by April 1, 2018, an online tool that allows taxpayers (other than corporations) to calculate the approximate change in taxpayer income tax liability by reason of P.L. 115-97 (commonly known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act).

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4780 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4780

To direct the Secretary of the Treasury to make available an online tax 
    calculator to estimate the change in an individual's income tax 
liability with respect to the amendments made by the Tax Cuts and Jobs 
                                  Act.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 11, 2018

 Mr. MacArthur (for himself, Mr. Rodney Davis of Illinois, Mr. Gibbs, 
     Mr. Johnson of Ohio, Mr. Faso, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Garrett, Mr. 
 Rutherford, Mr. Davidson, Mr. Mooney of West Virginia, Mr. Bacon, and 
 Mr. Stivers) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Ways and Means

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To direct the Secretary of the Treasury to make available an online tax 
    calculator to estimate the change in an individual's income tax 
liability with respect to the amendments made by the Tax Cuts and Jobs 
                                  Act.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Transparency for 
Taxpayers Act''.
    (b) Findings.--Congress finds as follows:
            (1) Most businesses have professional accountants to assess 
        the immediate effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
            (2) Individuals have an immediate need to understand the 
        impact that this legislation may have on them but don't have 
        the same resources as large businesses to do so.
            (3) It is necessary for the Internal Revenue Service to 
        provide individuals with a tool to help aid them in assessing 
        the effect tax reform will have on their personal finances.

SEC. 2. ONLINE TAX CALCULATOR TO DETERMINE CHANGE IN TAX LIABILITY 
              EXPECTED BY REASON OF THE TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT.

    (a) In General.--Not later than April 1, 2018, the Secretary of the 
Treasury shall make publicly available an online tool that allows 
taxpayers (other than corporations) to calculate the approximate change 
in the income tax liability of the taxpayer by reason of Public Law 
115-97 (commonly known as the ``Tax Cuts and Jobs Act'') by determining 
a simplified estimate of the taxpayer's income tax liability that would 
be determined for the taxpayer's taxable year beginning in 2017 if the 
amendments made by Public Law 115-97 (commonly known as the ``Tax Cuts 
and Jobs Act'') which apply for taxable years beginning in 2018, 
applied to taxable years beginning in 2017.
    (b) Items Taken Into Account in Determining Simplified Estimates.--
            (1) In general.--For purposes of making simplified 
        estimates of income tax liability under subsection (a), the 
        online tool made available under such subsection shall take 
        into account the following factors with respect to the 
        taxpayer:
                    (A) The filing status and income of the taxpayer.
                    (B) The number of qualifying children and other 
                dependents of the taxpayer.
                    (C) The deductions allowable to the taxpayer for 
                mortgage interest, charitable contributions, medical 
                expenses, tuition, and State and local taxes.
                    (D) Such other factors as the Secretary determines 
                appropriate.
            (2) Limitation on complexity.--In determining the factors 
        which are appropriate to take into account under paragraph 
        (1)(D), the Secretary shall ensure that the online tool is as 
        simple and quick to use for taxpayers as is reasonably 
        possible.
            (3) Not applicable to business income.--Except as otherwise 
        determined to be feasible by the Secretary (and consistent with 
        the requirement of paragraph (2)), the online tool made 
        available under subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to 
        income and deductions attributable to the conduct of any trade 
        or business.
    (c) Special Rules.--
            (1) Publicity.--The Secretary shall publicize the 
        availability of the online tool made available under subsection 
        (a). Such publicity shall include notices of such tool's 
        availability in connection with making available individual 
        income tax return forms and instructions and by including a 
        written notice of such tool's availability with any income tax 
        refund mailed to an individual.
            (2) Disclaimer.--The online tool made available under 
        subsection (a), and the publicity of such tool under paragraph 
        (1), shall make clear that such tool is designed to provide 
        simplified estimates of the income tax liability of the 
        taxpayer and that the taxpayer's actual income tax liability 
        may differ from the simplified estimates provided by the tool.
            (3) References to secretary.--For purposes of this section, 
        the terms ``Secretary of the Treasury'' and ``Secretary'' each 
        mean the Secretary of the Treasury or his designee.
                                 <all>