Earned Income and Child Tax Credits Outreach Act of 2021

Bill: 117-hr-574
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]
Introduced: 2021-01-28
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Government information and archives

Government studies and investigations

Income tax credits

Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Tax treatment of families
Latest action: action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-01-28
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Earned Income and Child Tax Credits Outreach Act of 2021</b></p> <p>This bill directs the Department of the Treasury, not later than March 1, 2021, to carry out a public outreach program to inform certain individual taxpayers of their potential eligibility for the earned income and child tax credits. </p> <p>The Inspector General for Tax Administration of Treasury must study the outreach program and make recommendations for improving it. </p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 574 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 28, 2021 Ms. Moore of Wisconsin (for herself, Mr. Panetta , Mr. Beyer , Mr. Suozzi , Ms. Scanlon , Mr. Cohen , Ms. Norton , Ms. Schakowsky , Mr. Danny K. Davis of Illinois , Ms. Bonamici , Mrs. Watson Coleman , Mr. Hastings , Ms. DelBene , Mr. Blumenauer , Mrs. Hayes , Mr. Carson , Mr. Rush , Mr. Vargas , Mr. Welch , Ms. Sewell , Mr. Horsford , Mr. Nadler , Mr. Higgins of New York , Mr. Pocan , Mr. Ryan , Mr. Larson of Connecticut , Mr. Schneider , Mrs. Lawrence , and Ms. DeLauro ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means A BILL To require the Secretary of the Treasury to conduct outreach to inform certain individuals of their potential eligibility for the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Earned Income and Child Tax Credits Outreach Act of 2021 . 2. Outreach to certain individuals regarding the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit (a) In general Not later than March 1, 2021, the Secretary of the Treasury shall carry out a program of public outreach, including on the Internet and through mailed notices, to inform identified individuals of their potential eligibility for the earned income tax credit under section 32 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the child tax credit under section 24 of such Code. (b) Identified individuals (1) In general The term identified individuals — (A) means individuals— (i) who used the non-filer portal to provide their identifying information and receive recovery rebate payments, and (ii) whose identity has been verified by the Internal Revenue Service, and (B) does not include individuals who— (i) are age 65 or older as of December 31, 2020, and (ii) did not claim a dependent in tax year 2019. (c) Non-Filer portal The term non-filer portal means the electronic portal established by the Secretary of the Treasury for the purpose of making payments under section 6428 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to individuals who did not file a return of tax for 2018 or 2019. (d) Form and manner of notice Mailed notices sent to identified individuals under subsection (a) may be sent to individuals in such form and manner as the Secretary of the Treasury may require, including as an attachment to, or in conjunction with, any mailed correspondence providing information on recovery rebate payments. (e) Notice contents Mailed notices sent to identified individuals under subsection (a) shall provide— (1) a description of the earned income tax credit and the qualifications for receiving such credit, (2) a description of the child tax credit and the qualifications for receiving such credit, (3) information on the availability of, and eligibility requirements for receiving, advice and assistance from qualified return preparation programs as defined in section 7526A(e)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and information regarding how to locate and contact such programs, and (4) information on the availability of, and eligibility requirements for receiving, advice and assistance from organizations that provide tax counseling for the elderly pursuant to a cooperative agreement with the Internal Revenue Service under section 163 of the Revenue Act of 1978 ( Public Law 95–600 ), and information regarding how to locate and contact such organizations. 3. Effectiveness study (a) Study The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration shall conduct a study to— (1) evaluate the outreach conducted under section 2(a), including— (A) a description of communications the Internal Revenue Service issued, (B) the date the Internal Revenue Service issued communications on the Internet and the date mailed notices were sent, (C) whether the information provided on the Internet and in mailed notices adequately described the earned income tax credit and the child tax credit and the qualifications for receiving such credits, (D) in what languages such communications were offered, (E) the number of filers who used the non-filer portal to properly claim recovery rebate payments, and (F) the number of mailed notices that were returned to the IRS as undeliverable, and (2) make recommendations for improving outreach to expand the use of the credits by identified individuals. (b) Report Not later than December 31, 2022, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration shall submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Senate Committee on Finance a report on the results of the study conducted under subsection (a).