Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Internal Revenue Service should provide printed copies of Internal Revenue Service Publication 17 to taxpayers in the United States free of charge.

Bill: 114-hres-673
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6]
Introduced: 2016-04-12
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Department of the Treasury

Government information and archives

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Latest action: action_date: 2016-04-19
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Summaries:
action_date: 2016-04-12
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) should provide U.S. taxpayers with free printed copies of IRS Publication 17, which is entitled &quot;Your Federal Income Tax&quot; and provides individuals with general instructions for filing tax returns.</p>

action_date: 2016-04-19
action_desc: Passed House without amendment
text: <p>(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)</p> <p>Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) should provide U.S. taxpayers with free printed copies of IRS Publication 17, which is entitled &quot;Your Federal Income Tax&quot; and provides individuals with general instructions for filing tax returns.</p>

tv_txt: IV 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 673 In the House of Representatives, U. S., April 19, 2016 RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Internal Revenue Service should provide printed copies of Internal Revenue Service Publication 17 to taxpayers in the United States free of charge.

Whereas each year, Internal Revenue Service Publication 17, entitled Your Federal Income Tax , provides individuals with general instructions on how to file their tax returns for the previous taxable year; Whereas in each year prior to 2015, free printed versions of Internal Revenue Service Publication 17 were made widely available to taxpayers at libraries, post offices, and taxpayer service offices, and even by mail at the request of a taxpayer; Whereas the Internal Revenue Service no longer disseminates a free printed version of Internal Revenue Service Publication 17 as it transitions to a fully electronic tax filing system, including an electronic system for providing instructions on filing tax returns; Whereas the Internal Revenue Service directs taxpayers to the Internet to download an electronic version of Internal Revenue Service Publication 17, even though the limited availability of a printed version of this publication burdens individuals who do not have access to a computer or printer and individuals who struggle to navigate a computer; Whereas the dissemination of printed copies of Internal Revenue Service Publication 17 is a basic taxpayer service that the Internal Revenue Service is ignoring; Whereas the Internal Revenue Service should prioritize its resources on areas that are critical to the ability of taxpayers to file their tax returns in a timely and proper manner; Whereas the decision of the Internal Revenue Service to stop disseminating printed copies of Internal Revenue Service Publication 17 adversely impacts populations that do not have access to, or understand how to use, a computer, and the decision unnecessarily burdens and restricts the ability of taxpayers to comply with the convoluted and complicated provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and Whereas Internal Revenue Service Publication 17 is clear evidence of the need for comprehensive tax reform that simplifies the Internal Revenue Code so that individuals can complete their tax returns and pay their taxes without needing the nearly 300 pages of instructions that currently make up Publication 17: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives urges the Internal Revenue Service to— (1) resume printing copies of Internal Revenue Service Publication 17; and (2) provide free copies of such publication to the taxpayers of the United States.

Karen L. Haas, Clerk.

tv_txt: IV 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 673 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 12, 2016 Mr. Grothman submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Internal Revenue Service should provide printed copies of Internal Revenue Service Publication 17 to taxpayers in the United States free of charge.

Whereas each year, Internal Revenue Service Publication 17, entitled Your Federal Income Tax , provides individuals with general instructions on how to file their tax returns for the previous taxable year; Whereas in each year prior to 2015, free printed versions of Internal Revenue Service Publication 17 were made widely available to taxpayers at libraries, post offices, and taxpayer service offices, and even by mail at the request of a taxpayer; Whereas the Internal Revenue Service no longer disseminates a free printed version of Internal Revenue Service Publication 17 as it transitions to a fully electronic tax filing system, including an electronic system for providing instructions on filing tax returns; Whereas the Internal Revenue Service directs taxpayers to the Internet to download an electronic version of Internal Revenue Service Publication 17, even though the limited availability of a printed version of this publication burdens individuals who do not have access to a computer or printer and individuals who struggle to navigate a computer; Whereas the dissemination of printed copies of Internal Revenue Service Publication 17 is a basic taxpayer service that the Internal Revenue Service is ignoring; Whereas the Internal Revenue Service should prioritize its resources on areas that are critical to the ability of taxpayers to file their tax returns in a timely and proper manner; Whereas the decision of the Internal Revenue Service to stop disseminating printed copies of Internal Revenue Service Publication 17 adversely impacts populations that do not have access to, or understand how to use, a computer, and the decision unnecessarily burdens and restricts the ability of taxpayers to comply with the convoluted and complicated provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and Whereas Internal Revenue Service Publication 17 is clear evidence of the need for comprehensive tax reform that simplifies the Internal Revenue Code so that individuals can complete their tax returns and pay their taxes without needing the nearly 300 pages of instructions that currently make up Publication 17: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives urges the Internal Revenue Service to— (1) resume printing copies of Internal Revenue Service Publication 17; and (2) provide free copies of such publication to the taxpayers of the United States.