Strengthening Charities Through Transparency Act of 2016

Bill: 114-hr-4990
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
Introduced: 2016-04-18
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Crimes against property

Fraud offenses and financial crimes

Government information and archives

Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Tax-exempt organizations
Latest action: action_date: 2016-04-18
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Summaries:
action_date: 2016-04-18
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Strengthening Charities Through Transparency Act of 2016</b></p> <p>This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to require tax-exempt organizations to file their returns in electronic form. The Internal Revenue Service must make the returns available to the public in a machine readable format as soon as practicable. </p> <p>Upon the request of the Department of Justice (DOJ), states must make available information on charities or charity management officials who have been convicted of fraud, theft, or a financial offense. DOJ must: (1) establish a database that lists each such charity or charity management official, and (2) provide the information to state attorneys general for regulatory and law enforcement purposes. </p>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4990 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 18, 2016 Ms. Titus introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means , and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To improve transparency in charity regulation.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Strengthening Charities Through Transparency Act of 2016 . 2. Mandatory electronic filing for annual returns of exempt organizations (a) In general Section 6033 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by redesignating subsection (n) as subsection (o) and by inserting after subsection (m) the following new subsection: (n) Mandatory electronic filing Any organization required to file a return under this section shall file such return in electronic form. . (b) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act. 3. Inspection of electronically filed annual returns of exempt organizations (a) In general Section 6104(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following: Any annual return required to be filed electronically under section 6033(n) shall be made available by the Secretary to the public in machine readable format as soon as practicable. . (b) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to returns filed for taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act. 4. Establishment of database listing charities and charity management officials convicted of fraud (a) In general Upon request by the Attorney General, a State shall make available information regarding a charity or a charity management official that has been convicted of a fraud, theft, or a financial offense. Beginning not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall establish a database that lists each such charity or charity management official. Information received under this subsection shall be made available to State Attorneys General for regulatory and law enforcement purposes. (b) Definitions In this section: (1) The terms charity , charity management official , information , and financial offenses have such meanings as the Attorney General shall by rule establish. (2) The term State means any of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and any other territory or possession of the United States.