Taxpayer Protection Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-1677
Sponsor: Rep. Rangel, Charles B. [D-NY-15]
Introduced: 2007-03-26 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Aliens
Checks
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil actions and liability
Commerce
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Department of the Treasury
Earned income tax credit
Electronic government information
Families
Finance and Financial Sector
Financial services
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Foreign corporations
Fraud
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Identity theft
Income tax
Individual retirement accounts
Inspectors general
Interest
Internet
Joint ventures
Labor and Employment
Law
Limitation of actions
Loans
Married people
Mass media
Names
Prisoners
Property tax
Right of privacy
Right of property
Science, Technology, Communications
Self-employed
Signs and symbols
Social Welfare
Tax administration
Tax evasion
Tax exemption
Tax liens
Tax penalties
Tax refunds
Tax returns
Taxpayers
Usury
Web sites
Welfare eligibility
Withholding tax

Summary:
action_date: 2007-03-26
text: 
Taxpayer Protection Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow married couples filing a joint tax return to conduct their business activities as a qualified joint venture; (2) require the Secretary of the Treasury to notify a taxpayer of any unauthorized use of such taxpayer's identity (i.e., suspected identity theft); (3) extend from nine months to two years the period for return by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of property which has been wrongfully levied and for bringing a civil action for wrongful levy; (4) allow taxpayers to recontribute to their individual retirement accounts, without penalty or limitation, amounts that were wrongfully levied by the IRS; (5) allow the IRS to use any means of mass communication (e.g., the Internet) to publish unclaimed refund amounts; (6) prohibit the Secretary from allowing the payment of taxpayer refunds to any refund anticipation loan business whose business practices are predatory; and (7) require the Secretary to notify certain taxpayers of their eligibility for the earned income credit. 
Expands the prohibition against the misuse of Department of the Treasury names and symbols to the use of such names and symbols on an Internet domain address.

action_date: 2007-04-17
text: 
Taxpayer Protection Act of 2007 - Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions relating to tax administration and taxpayer protections. 

(Sec. 2) Allows married couples who file a joint tax return to elect to conduct their business activities as a qualified joint venture without being treated as a partnership. Defines &quot;qualified joint venture&quot; as a trade or business entity in which the only members are a husband and wife who materially participate in such venture. Allows participating spouses to conduct their individual business activities as sole proprietors and divides their items of income and expense in accordance with their respective interests in such venture. 

(Sec. 3) Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to notify a taxpayer of: (1) any unauthorized use of such taxpayer's identity (suspected identity theft) which the Secretary uncovers during an investigation of false statements or tax returns; and (2) any criminal charges brought against an individual who is using the identity of such taxpayer.

(Sec. 4) Extends from nine months to two years the period in which the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) may return property that has been wrongfully levied and for bringing a civil action for wrongful levy. 

(Sec. 5) Allows taxpayers to recontribute to their individual retirement accounts (IRAs), without penalty or limitation, amounts that were wrongfully levied by the IRS. Requires the IRS to pay interest on IRA amounts that were wrongfully seized.

(Sec. 6) Allows the IRS to use any means of mass communication (e.g., the Internet) to publish unclaimed refund amounts. 

(Sec. 7) Prohibits the Secretary from allowing the payment of taxpayer refunds to any refund anticipation loan business whose business practices are predatory. 

(Sec. 8) Expands the prohibitions against the misuse of Department of the Treasury names and symbols to the use of such names and symbols on an Internet domain address. 

(Sec. 9) Requires the Secretary to notify in writing certain taxpayers who may be eligible for the earned income credit of their eligibility for such credit. 

(Sec. 10) Sets forth an alternative procedure for furnishing a non-foreign affidavit in connection with the sale of a U.S. real property interest (USRPI) and the exemption from withholding of tax requirements. Allow a transferor of a USRPI to furnish a non-foreign affidavit to a qualified substitute (i.e., a person responsible for closing the transaction involving a USRPI or the transferee's agent). Denies an exemption from withholding of tax requirements if the qualified substitute or a transferee has actual knowledge that the non-foreign affidavit is false. 

(Sec. 11) Authorizes the Secretary to disclose to the head of the Federal Bureau of Prisons any return information of a federal inmate whom the Secretary has determined may have filed or facilitated the filing of a false tax return. Terminates the authority of the Secretary to make such disclosures after December 31, 2010. Requires the Inspector General for Tax Administration of the Department of the Treasury to report to Congress on the implementation of such disclosure authority.

(Sec. 12) Increases the penalty for tendering a bad check or money order for payment of taxes. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-04-18
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2007-04-17
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2007-04-17
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 407 - 7 (Roll no. 214). (text: CR H3417-3419)
action_date: 2007-04-17
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 407 - 7 (Roll no. 214).(text: CR H3417-3419)
action_date: 2007-04-17
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H3435-3436)
action_date: 2007-04-17
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2007-04-17
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1677.
action_date: 2007-04-17
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3417-3423)
action_date: 2007-04-17
text: Mr. Lewis (GA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2007-04-16
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 49.
action_date: 2007-04-16
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 110-84.
action_date: 2007-04-16
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 110-84.
action_date: 2007-03-28
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2007-03-28
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2007-03-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2007-03-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-03-26
text: Introduced in House