Emergency Direct Payments Act

Bill: 116-s-5063
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
Introduced: 2020-12-18
Policy area: Taxation
Latest action: action_date: 2020-12-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-12-18
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Emergency Direct Payments Act</b></p> <p>This bill provides an additional recovery rebate (i.e., refundable tax credits) beginning in 2020 to individual taxpayers whose adjusted gross income does not exceed $75,000 ($150,000 for joint return filers). The increased amount is $1,200 per taxpayer ($2,400 for joint return filers) and $500 for each dependent of the taxpayer.</p> <p>To be eligible for the increased rebate amount, a taxpayer must provide a valid identification number (i.e., Social Security account number). The bill allows an exemption from the identification requirement for members of the Armed Forces if at least one military spouse provides a valid identification number. It also provides for a qualified exemption for the recovery rebate from garnishments and other offsets.</p> <p>The Department of the Treasury must conduct a public awareness campaign regarding the availability of the recovery rebate.</p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 5063 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES December 18, 2020 Mr. Sanders introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide additional recovery rebates to individuals.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Emergency Direct Payments Act . 2. Additional recovery rebates for individuals (a) In general Subchapter B of chapter 65 of subtitle F of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting after section 6428 the following new section: 6428A. Additional recovery rebates for individuals (a) In general In the case of an eligible individual, there shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by subtitle A for the first taxable year beginning in 2020 an amount equal to the sum of— (1) $1,200 ($2,400 in the case of eligible individuals filing a joint return), plus (2) an amount equal to the product of $500 multiplied by the number of dependents (as defined in section 152) of the taxpayer. (b) Treatment of credit The credit allowed by subsection (a) shall be treated as allowed by subpart C of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1. (c) Limitation based on adjusted gross income The amount of the credit allowed by subsection (a) (determined without regard to this subsection and subsection (e)) shall be reduced (but not below zero) by 5 percent of so much of the taxpayer’s adjusted gross income as exceeds— (1) $150,000 in the case of a joint return, (2) $112,500 in the case of a head of household, and (3) $75,000 in the case of a taxpayer not described in paragraph (1) or (2). (d) Eligible individual For purposes of this section, the term eligible individual means any individual other than— (1) any nonresident alien individual, (2) any individual with respect to whom a deduction under section 151 is allowable to another taxpayer for a taxable year beginning in the calendar year in which the individual’s taxable year begins, and (3) an estate or trust. (e) Coordination with advance refunds of credit (1) In general The amount of credit which would (but for this paragraph) be allowable under this section shall be reduced (but not below zero) by the aggregate refunds and credits made or allowed to the taxpayer under subsection (f). Any failure to so reduce the credit shall be treated as arising out of a mathematical or clerical error and assessed according to section 6213(b)(1). (2) Joint returns In the case of a refund or credit made or allowed under subsection (f) with respect to a joint return, half of such refund or credit shall be treated as having been made or allowed to each individual filing such return. (f) Advance refunds and credits (1) In general Subject to paragraph (5), each individual who was an eligible individual for such individual’s first taxable year beginning in 2019 shall be treated as having made a payment against the tax imposed by chapter 1 for such taxable year in an amount equal to the advance refund amount for such taxable year. (2) Advance refund amount For purposes of paragraph (1), the advance refund amount is the amount that would have been allowed as a credit under this section for such taxable year if this section (other than subsection (e) and this subsection) had applied to such taxable year. (3) Timing and manner of payments (A) Timing The Secretary shall, subject to the provisions of this title, refund or credit any overpayment attributable to this section as rapidly as possible. No refund or credit shall be made or allowed under this subsection after December 31, 2021. (B) Delivery of payments Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may certify and disburse refunds payable under this subsection electronically to any account to which the payee authorized, on or after January 1, 2018, the delivery of a refund of taxes under this title or of a Federal payment (as defined in section 3332 of title 31, United States Code). (C) Waiver of certain rules Notwithstanding section 3325 of title 31, United States Code, or any other provision of law, with respect to any payment of a refund under this subsection, a disbursing official in the executive branch of the United States Government may modify payment information received from an officer or employee described in section 3325(a)(1)(B) of such title for the purpose of facilitating the accurate and efficient delivery of such payment. Except in cases of fraud or reckless neglect, no liability under section 3325, 3527, 3528, or 3529 of title 31, United States Code, shall be imposed with respect to payments made under this subparagraph. (4) No interest No interest shall be allowed on any overpayment attributable to this section. (5) Alternate taxable year In the case of an individual who, at the time of any determination made pursuant to paragraph (3), has not filed a tax return for the year described in paragraph (1), the Secretary may— (A) apply such paragraph by substituting 2018 for 2019 , and (B) if the individual has not filed a tax return for such individual’s first taxable year beginning in 2018, use information with respect to such individual for calendar year 2019 provided in— (i) Form SSA–1099, Social Security Benefit Statement, or (ii) Form RRB–1099, Social Security Equivalent Benefit Statement. (6) Payment to representative payees and fiduciaries (A) In general In the case of any individual for which payment information is provided to the Secretary by the Commissioner of Social Security, the Railroad Retirement Board, or the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the payment by the Secretary under paragraph (3) with respect to such individual may be made to such individual’s representative payee or fiduciary and the entire payment shall be— (i) provided to the individual who is entitled to the payment, or (ii) used only for the benefit of the individual who is entitled to the payment. (B) Application of enforcement provisions (i) In the case of a payment described in subparagraph (A) which is made with respect to a social security beneficiary or a supplemental security income recipient, section 1129(a)(3) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1320a–8(a)(3) ) shall apply to such payment in the same manner as such section applies to a payment under title II or XVI of such Act. (ii) In the case of a payment described in subparagraph (A) which is made with respect to a railroad retirement beneficiary, section 13 of the Railroad Retirement Act ( 45 U.S.C. 231l ) shall apply to such payment in the same manner as such section applies to a payment under such Act. (iii) In the case of a payment described in subparagraph (A) which is made with respect to a veterans beneficiary, sections 5502, 6106, and 6108 of title 38, United States Code, shall apply to such payment in the same manner as such sections apply to a payment under such title. (7) Notice to taxpayer Not later than 15 days after the date on which the Secretary distributed any payment to an eligible taxpayer pursuant to this subsection, notice shall be sent by mail to such taxpayer's last known address. Such notice shall indicate the method by which such payment was made, the amount of such payment, and a phone number for the appropriate point of contact at the Internal Revenue Service to report any failure to receive such payment. (g) Identification number requirement (1) In general In the case of any taxpayer who does not include the valid identification number of such taxpayer on the return of tax for the taxable year, subsection (a)(1) shall be applied by substituting $0 for $1,200 . (2) Joint returns In the case of a joint return— (A) if the valid identification number of only 1 spouse is included on the return of tax for the taxable year— (i) subsection (a)(1) shall be applied by substituting $1,200 for $2,400 , and (ii) subsection (c)(1) shall be applied by substituting $75,000 for $150,000 , or (B) if the valid identification number of neither spouse is included on the return of tax for the taxable year, subsection (a)(1) shall be applied by substituting $0 for $2,400 . (3) Dependent A dependent of a taxpayer shall not be taken into account under subsection (a)(2) unless— (A) the taxpayer includes the valid identification number of such taxpayer (or, in the case of a joint return, the valid identification number of at least 1 spouse) on the return of tax for the taxable year, and (B) the valid identification number of such dependent is included on the return of tax for the taxable year. (4) Valid identification number (A) In general For purposes of this subsection, the term valid identification number means a social security number (as such term is defined in section 24(h)(7)). (B) Adoption taxpayer identification number For purposes of paragraph (3)(B), in the case of a dependent who is adopted or placed for adoption, the term valid identification number shall include the adoption taxpayer identification number of such dependent. (5) Special rule for members of the Armed Forces Paragraph (2) shall not apply in the case where at least 1 spouse was a member of the Armed Forces of the United States at any time during the taxable year and the valid identification number of at least 1 spouse is included on the return of tax for the taxable year. (6) Mathematical or clerical error authority Any omission of a correct valid identification number required under this subsection shall be treated as a mathematical or clerical error for purposes of applying section 6213(g)(2) to such omission. (h) Regulations The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations or other guidance as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this section, including any such measures as are deemed appropriate to avoid allowing multiple credits or rebates to a taxpayer. . (b) Administrative amendments (1) Definition of deficiency Section 6211(b)(4)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking and 6428 and inserting 6428, and 6428A . (2) Mathematical or clerical error authority Section 6213(g)(2)(L) of such Code is amended by striking or 6428 and inserting 6428, or 6428A . (c) Treatment of possessions (1) Payments to possessions (A) Mirror code possession The Secretary of the Treasury shall pay to each possession of the United States which has a mirror code tax system amounts equal to the loss (if any) to that possession by reason of the amendments made by this section. Such amounts shall be determined by the Secretary of the Treasury based on information provided by the government of the respective possession. (B) Other possessions The Secretary of the Treasury shall pay to each possession of the United States which does not have a mirror code tax system amounts estimated by the Secretary of the Treasury as being equal to the aggregate benefits (if any) that would have been provided to residents of such possession by reason of the amendments made by this section if a mirror code tax system had been in effect in such possession. The preceding sentence shall not apply unless the respective possession has a plan, which has been approved by the Secretary of the Treasury, under which such possession will promptly distribute such payments to its residents. (2) Coordination with credit allowed against united states income taxes No credit shall be allowed against United States income taxes under section 6428A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as added by this section) to any person— (A) to whom a credit is allowed against taxes imposed by the possession by reason of the amendments made by this section, or (B) who is eligible for a payment under a plan described in paragraph (1)(B). (3) Definitions and special rules (A) Possession of the united states For purposes of this subsection, the term possession of the United States includes the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. (B) Mirror code tax system For purposes of this subsection, the term mirror code tax system means, with respect to any possession of the United States, the income tax system of such possession if the income tax liability of the residents of such possession under such system is determined by reference to the income tax laws of the United States as if such possession were the United States. (C) Treatment of payments For purposes of section 1324 of title 31, United States Code, the payments under this subsection shall be treated in the same manner as a refund due from a credit provision referred to in subsection (b)(2) of such section. (d) Exception from reduction, offset, garnishment, Etc (1) In general Any credit or refund allowed or made to any individual by reason of section 6428A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as added by this section) or by reason of subsection (c) of this section shall not be— (A) subject to reduction or offset pursuant to section 3716 or 3720A of title 31, United States Code, (B) subject to reduction or offset pursuant to subsection (d), (e), or (f) of section 6402 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or (C) reduced or offset by other assessed Federal taxes that would otherwise be subject to levy or collection. (2) Assignment of benefits (A) In general Any applicable payment shall not be subject to transfer, assignment, execution, levy, attachment, garnishment, or other legal process, or the operation of any bankruptcy or insolvency law, to the same extent as payments described in section 207 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 407 ) without regard to subsection (b) thereof. (B) Encoding of payments As soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary of the Treasury shall encode applicable payments that are paid electronically to any account— (i) with a unique identifier that is reasonably sufficient to allow a financial institution to identify the payment as a payment protected under subparagraph (A), and (ii) pursuant to the same specifications as required for a benefit payment to which part 212 of title 31, Code of Federal regulations applies. (C) Garnishment (i) Encoded payments Upon receipt of a garnishment order that applies to an account that has received an applicable payment that is encoded as provided in subparagraph (B), a financial institution shall follow the requirements and procedures set forth in part 212 of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations. This paragraph shall not alter the status of payments as tax refunds or other nonbenefit payments for purpose of any reclamation rights of the Department of the Treasury or the Internal Revenue Service as per part 210 of title 31 of the Code of Federal Regulations. (ii) Other payments If a financial institution receives a garnishment order (other than an order that has been served by the United States) that applies to an account into which an applicable payment that has not been encoded as provided in subparagraph (B) has been deposited on any date in the prior 60 days (including any date before the date of the enactment of this paragraph), the financial institution, upon the request of the account holder or for purposes of complying in good faith with a State order, State law, court order, or interpretation by a State Attorney General relating to garnishment order, may, but is not required to, treat the amount of the payment as exempt under law from garnishment without requiring the account holder to assert any right of garnishment exemption or requiring the consent of the judgment creditor. (iii) Liability A financial institution that complies in good faith with clause (i) or that acts in good faith in reliance on clause (ii) shall not be liable under any Federal or State law, regulation, or court or other order to a creditor that initiates an order for any protected amounts, to an account holder for any frozen amounts or garnishment order applied. (D) Definitions For purposes of this paragraph— (i) Account holder The term account holder means a natural person against whom a garnishment order is issued and whose name appears in a financial institution’s records. (ii) Applicable payment The term applicable payment means any payment of credit or refund by reason of section 6428A of such Code (as so added) or by reason of subsection (c) of this section. (iii) Garnishment The term garnishment means execution, levy, attachment, garnishment, or other legal process. (iv) Garnishment order (I) In general The term garnishment order means a writ, order, notice, summons, judgment, levy, or similar written instruction issued by a court, a State or State agency, or a municipality or municipal corporation, including an order to freeze the assets in an account, to effect a garnishment against a debtor. (II) Exception for child support The term garnishment order shall not include any writ, order, notice, summons, judgment, levy or other similar written instruction issued by a State child support enforcement agency. (E) Exception for child support Nothing in this subsection shall prevent or prejudice the enforcement of any writ, order, notice, summons, judgment, levy or other similar written instruction issued by a State child support enforcement agency. (e) Public awareness campaign The Secretary of the Treasury (or the Secretary's delegate) shall conduct a public awareness campaign, in coordination with the Commissioner of Social Security and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, to provide information regarding the availability of the credit and rebate allowed under section 6428A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as added by this section), including information with respect to individuals who may not have filed a tax return for taxable year 2018 or 2019. (f) Appropriations To carry out rebates (1) In general Immediately upon the enactment of this Act, the following sums are appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021: (A) Department of the Treasury (i) For an additional amount for Department of the Treasury—Bureau of the Fiscal Service—Salaries and Expenses , $78,650,000, to remain available until September 30, 2022. (ii) For an additional amount for Department of the Treasury—Internal Revenue Service—Taxpayer Services , $293,500,000, to remain available until September 30, 2022. (iii) For an additional amount for Department of the Treasury—Internal Revenue Service—Operations Support , $170,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2022. (iv) For an additional amount for Department of the Treasury—Internal Revenue Service—Enforcement , $37,200,000, to remain available until September 30, 2022. Amounts made available in appropriations under clauses (ii), (iii), and (iv) of this subparagraph may be transferred between such appropriations upon the advance notification of the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Such transfer authority is in addition to any other transfer authority provided by law. (B) Social security administration For an additional amount for Social Security Administration—Limitation on Administrative Expenses , $38,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2022. (2) Reports No later than 15 days after enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury shall submit a plan to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate detailing the expected use of the funds provided by paragraph (1)(A). Beginning 90 days after enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury shall submit a quarterly report to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate detailing the actual expenditure of funds provided by paragraph (1)(A) and the expected expenditure of such funds in the subsequent quarter. (g) Conforming amendments (1) Paragraph (2) of section 1324(b) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by inserting “6428A,” after “6428,”. (2) The table of sections for subchapter B of chapter 65 of subtitle F of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 6428 the following: Sec. 6428A. Additional recovery rebates for individuals. .