To impose a ban on the payment of bonuses to employees of the Internal Revenue Service until the Secretary of the Treasury develops and implements a comprehensive customer service strategy.

Bill: 114-hr-4890
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Meehan, Patrick [R-PA-7]
Introduced: 2016-04-11
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Department of the Treasury

Employee performance

Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Wages and earnings
Latest action: action_date: 2016-04-25
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Summaries:
action_date: 2016-04-11
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This bill prohibits the Department of the Treasury from paying a bonus, award, or similar cash payment to an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employee until Treasury submits to Congress a comprehensive customer service strategy that has been reviewed and approved by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.</p> <p> The strategy must include: (1) appropriate telephone and correspondence levels of service; (2) an assessment of which services the IRS can shift to self-service options; and (3) proposals to improve customer service over the short-term, the medium-term, and the long-term. </p>

action_date: 2016-04-18
action_desc: Reported to House with amendment(s)
text: <p>(Sec. 1) This bill prohibits the Department of the Treasury from paying a bonus, award, or similar cash payment to any Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employee until Treasury develops and submits to Congress a comprehensive customer service strategy that has been reviewed and approved by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.</p> <p> The strategy must include: (1) appropriate telephone and correspondence levels of service; (2) a thorough assessment of which services the IRS can shift to self-service options; and (3) proposals to improve customer service over the short-term, the medium-term, and the long-term. </p> <p>Treasury must submit semiannual reports to Congress on the status of its customer service strategy and actions taken to improve customer service. </p> <p>(Sec. 2) No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available to carry out this bill. </p>

action_date: 2016-04-21
action_desc: Passed House amended
text: <p>(Sec. 1) This bill prohibits the Department of the Treasury from paying a bonus, award, or similar cash payment to any Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employee until Treasury develops and submits to Congress a comprehensive customer service strategy that has been reviewed and approved by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.</p> <p> The strategy must include: (1) appropriate telephone and correspondence levels of service; (2) a thorough assessment of which services the IRS can shift to self-service options; and (3) proposals to improve customer service over the short-term, the medium-term, and the long-term. </p> <p>In developing the strategy, Treasury must consult with the National Taxpayer Advocate. </p> <p>Treasury must submit semiannual reports to Congress on the status of its customer service strategy and actions taken to improve customer service. </p> <p>(Sec. 2) No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available to carry out this bill. </p>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4890 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To impose a ban on the payment of bonuses to employees of the Internal Revenue Service until the Secretary of the Treasury develops and implements a comprehensive customer service strategy.

1. Ban on IRS bonuses until IRS develops comprehensive customer service strategy (a) In general The Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary’s delegate, may not pay a bonus, award, or similar cash payment to any employee of the Internal Revenue Service until the Secretary, or the Secretary’s delegate, develops and submits to Congress a comprehensive customer service strategy that has been reviewed and approved by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Such strategy shall include— (1) appropriate telephone and correspondence levels of service, which shall be based on service provided by the best in business and customer expectations; (2) a thorough assessment of which services the Internal Revenue Service can shift to self-service options; and (3) proposals to improve customer service in the short term (the current and following fiscal year), medium term (approximately 3 to 5 fiscal years), and long term (approximately 10 fiscal years). (b) Progress reports The Secretary of the Treasury, or the Secretary’s delegate, shall submit reports to the Congress on the status of its customer service strategy and actions taken to improve customer service. Such reports shall be submitted on a semiannual basis until the comprehensive customer service strategy under subsection (a) is fully implemented. (c) Consultation with Taxpayer Advocate In developing the comprehensive customer service strategy pursuant to this section, the Secretary, or the Secretary’s delegate, shall consult with the National Taxpayer Advocate. 2. No additional funds authorized No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available to carry out the requirements of this Act. Such requirements shall be carried out using amounts otherwise authorized to be appropriated.

Passed the House of Representatives April 21, 2016. Karen L. Haas, Clerk.

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4890 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 11, 2016 Mr. Meehan introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means A BILL To impose a ban on the payment of bonuses to employees of the Internal Revenue Service until the Secretary of the Treasury develops and implements a comprehensive customer service strategy.

1. Ban on IRS bonuses until IRS develops comprehensive customer service strategy (a) In general The Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary’s delegate, may not pay a bonus, award, or similar cash payment to any employee of the Internal Revenue Service until the Secretary, or the Secretary’s delegate, develops and submits to Congress a comprehensive customer service strategy that has been reviewed and approved by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Such strategy shall include— (1) appropriate telephone and correspondence levels of service, which shall be based on service provided by the best in business and customer expectations; (2) a thorough assessment of which services the Internal Revenue Service can shift to self-service options; and (3) proposals to improve customer service in the short term (the current and following fiscal year), medium term (approximately three to five fiscal years), and long term (approximately ten fiscal years). (b) Progress reports The Secretary of the Treasury, or the Secretary’s delegate, shall submit reports to the Congress on the status of its customer service strategy and actions taken to improve customer service. Such reports shall be submitted on a semiannual basis until the comprehensive customer service strategy under subsection (a) is fully implemented. 2. No additional funds authorized No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available to carry out the requirements of this Act and the amendments made by this Act. Such requirements shall be carried out using amounts otherwise authorized to be appropriated or made available.

tv_txt: IIB 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4890 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 25, 2016 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance AN ACT To impose a ban on the payment of bonuses to employees of the Internal Revenue Service until the Secretary of the Treasury develops and implements a comprehensive customer service strategy.

1. Ban on IRS bonuses until IRS develops comprehensive customer service strategy (a) In general The Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary’s delegate, may not pay a bonus, award, or similar cash payment to any employee of the Internal Revenue Service until the Secretary, or the Secretary’s delegate, develops and submits to Congress a comprehensive customer service strategy that has been reviewed and approved by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Such strategy shall include— (1) appropriate telephone and correspondence levels of service, which shall be based on service provided by the best in business and customer expectations; (2) a thorough assessment of which services the Internal Revenue Service can shift to self-service options; and (3) proposals to improve customer service in the short term (the current and following fiscal year), medium term (approximately 3 to 5 fiscal years), and long term (approximately 10 fiscal years). (b) Progress reports The Secretary of the Treasury, or the Secretary’s delegate, shall submit reports to the Congress on the status of its customer service strategy and actions taken to improve customer service. Such reports shall be submitted on a semiannual basis until the comprehensive customer service strategy under subsection (a) is fully implemented. (c) Consultation with Taxpayer Advocate In developing the comprehensive customer service strategy pursuant to this section, the Secretary, or the Secretary’s delegate, shall consult with the National Taxpayer Advocate. 2. No additional funds authorized No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available to carry out the requirements of this Act. Such requirements shall be carried out using amounts otherwise authorized to be appropriated.

Passed the House of Representatives April 21, 2016. Karen L. Haas, Clerk

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 383 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4890 [Report No. 114–501] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 11, 2016 Mr. Meehan introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means April 18, 2016 Additional sponsor: Mr. Sessions April 18, 2016 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on April 11, 2016 A BILL To impose a ban on the payment of bonuses to employees of the Internal Revenue Service until the Secretary of the Treasury develops and implements a comprehensive customer service strategy.

1. Ban on IRS bonuses until IRS develops comprehensive customer service strategy (a) In general The Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary’s delegate, may not pay a bonus, award, or similar cash payment to any employee of the Internal Revenue Service until the Secretary, or the Secretary’s delegate, develops and submits to Congress a comprehensive customer service strategy that has been reviewed and approved by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Such strategy shall include— (1) appropriate telephone and correspondence levels of service, which shall be based on service provided by the best in business and customer expectations; (2) a thorough assessment of which services the Internal Revenue Service can shift to self-service options; and (3) proposals to improve customer service in the short term (the current and following fiscal year), medium term (approximately three to five fiscal years), and long term (approximately ten fiscal years). (b) Progress reports The Secretary of the Treasury, or the Secretary’s delegate, shall submit reports to the Congress on the status of its customer service strategy and actions taken to improve customer service. Such reports shall be submitted on a semiannual basis until the comprehensive customer service strategy under subsection (a) is fully implemented. 2. No additional funds authorized No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available to carry out the requirements of this Act. Such requirements shall be carried out using amounts otherwise authorized to be appropriated or made available.

April 18, 2016 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed