Suozzi Introduces Commonsense Bill to Protect Taxpayers During Shutdowns
Washington, D.C. — Congressman Tom Suozzi (D–Long Island, Queens), a member of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, today announced the introduction of the Taxpayer Advocate Continuity Act, bipartisan legislation to ensure that the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) continues operating during a federal government shutdown.
“When Washington is in deadlock, Americans looking for help shouldn’t pay the price,” said Congressman Suozzi. “Shutting down offices designed to help people navigate the IRS makes no sense, especially in times of increased uncertainty due to a government shutdown. This commonsense bill ensures that, even if Washington shuts down, help for taxpayers doesn’t.”
“Even during shutdowns, IRS enforcement actions continue. This bill protects the right to a fair and just tax system by ensuring the Taxpayer Advocate Service is available during shutdowns, so taxpayers who are experiencing significant hardship as a result of IRS actions can get the help they need and avoid potentially irreparable harm,” said Nina Olson, Executive Director of the Center for Taxpayer Rights and former National Taxpayer Advocate.
The Taxpayer Advocate Service is an independent organization within the IRS that helps Americans resolve problems with the agency. TAS maintains local offices across the country, including an office in Holtsville, Long Island, which Congressman Suozzi’s office regularly works with to assist constituents facing complex tax issues.
During last year’s government shutdown, TAS operations were halted, leading to a month-long backlog of cases and leaving thousands of taxpayers without assistance.
The Taxpayer Advocate Continuity Act would grant TAS the authority to continue operations during a lapse in appropriations, ensuring uninterrupted support for taxpayers dealing with audits, refund delays, identity theft, and other urgent issues.
The legislation reflects broad bipartisan support and aligns with ongoing efforts to improve tax administration; This language has already been introduced in the Senate as part of the Taxpayer Assistance and Service Act led by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR), has full support from the IRS itself, and implements guidance from the National Taxpayer Advocate’s “Purple Book,” an annual nonpartisan report outlining reforms to improve the taxpayer experience.
“Good government means making government work better for people,” Suozzi continued. “This bill is about helping taxpayers get answers, resolve problems, and move forward with their lives, even when Washington is at an all-too-common partisan standstill,” concluded Suozzi. “This is exactly the kind of commonsense solution that should pass with overwhelming bipartisan backing, making government more responsive, more efficient, and more accountable to the American people.”
The full text can be found here.
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