Language from legislation sponsored by U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL) to improve taxpayer assistance was included as an amendment to a larger proposal that recently received approval from the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Retirement, Savings, and Other Tax Relief Act of 2018, also known as the House amendment to a U.S. Senate amendment to the larger H.R. 88, now includes language from the Improving Assistance for Taxpayers Act, H.R. 5342.
“Over the past year, Americans have seen the positive results of pro-growth tax reform, which has reinvigorated our economy and put more money in the pockets of hard-working Americans,” said Rep. LaHood. “Passage of this legislation … builds upon those results to further strengthen our nation’s tax code.”
Rep. LaHood on March 20, 2018 sponsored H.R. 5342, which would improve taxpayer protections and require the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to more quickly respond to taxpayer assistance directives (TAD) issued by the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS).
H.R. 5342 language is now part of the Shiloh National Military Park Boundary Adjustment and Parker’s Crossroads Battlefield Designation Act, H.R. 88, which the Senate amended and passed on June 6, 2018 by unanimous consent. The House on Dec. 20 subsequently approved the Senate changes, 220-183, resolving differences between the chambers on the bill and getting it ready to send to the president to become federal law.
“As we continue to work to make sure we have an IRS that works more effectively for the taxpayer, my legislation included with this bill will issue directives to systematic problems within the IRS, so taxpayers have a system that is more efficient and accountable to them,” Rep. LaHood said, noting that H.R. 88 makes technical corrections to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and outlines a long-term plan for both the biodiesel and short-line rail tax credits, which will support agriculture producers in central and west central regions of his home state.
H.R. 88 also will expand retirement savings opportunities for employees and provide tax relief to Americans affected by recent natural disasters, the lawmaker said.