Taxation

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION FOR APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020 AND THE FUTURE YEARS DEFENSE PROGRAM

United States · United States Senate · 27 March 2019

TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020

United States · United States Senate · 27 March 2019

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020

United States · United States Senate · 27 March 2019

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020

United States · United States Senate · 27 March 2019

Restoring Access to Medication Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2019

Restoring Access to Medication Act of 2019 This bill repeals provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, as added by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, that limit payments for medications from health savings accounts, medical savings accounts, health flexible spending arrangements, and health reimbursement arrangements to only prescription drugs or insulin (thus allowing distributions from such accounts for over-the-counter drugs). The bill also allows the accounts to pay for menstrual care products.

Online Sales Simplicity and Small Business Relief Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2019

Online Sales Simplicity and Small Business Relief Act of 201 9 This bill prohibits states from imposing a sales tax collection duty on certain remote sellers. A "remote seller" is a person without a physical presence in a state who makes a sale in the state. A state may impose a sales tax collection duty on a remote seller only for a sale that occurs after January 1, 2019. In the case of a small business remote seller (no more than $10 million in gross annual receipts in the United States), a state may not impose a sales tax collection duty on any person other than the purchaser if the sale is made (1) on or after June 21, 2018; and (2) before the date that is 30 days after the states develop and Congress approves an interstate compact, applicable to the state and sale, governing the imposition of tax collection duties on remote sellers.

MOMMA’s Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2019

Mothers and Offspring Mortality and Morbidity Awareness Act or the MOMMA's Act This bill establishes various programs and requirements to support the prevention of maternal mortality. Specifically, the bill requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide technical assistance and best practices for collecting data, standardizing reporting, and preventing maternal mortality. The CDC also must provide grants for state-based collaboratives to improve care immediately before and after birth and improve outcomes for maternal and infant health. Further, the Health Resources and Services Administration must establish a grants program to support national organizations in assisting state-level health care systems to implement standardized, evidence-informed processes for maternal health focusing on reducing maternal mortality. The bill also establishes regional centers to address implicit bias and cultural competency in the delivery of health care services. Specified institutions that provide education and training to health care professionals and focus on maternal mortality are eligible for funding through the program. The bill extends coverage for pregnant and postpartum women under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program for one year postpartum and such coverage is revised to include oral health services. Additionally, the bill (1) increases the excise tax on specified tobacco products, including cigarettes; (2) expands the definition of other tobacco products to include any such product as determined by the Food and Drug Administration; and (3) requires that such products are taxed at a rate equivalent to cigarettes on a per-use basis.

Health Coverage Tax Credit Reauthorization Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2019

Health Coverage Tax Credit Reauthorization Act of 2019 This bill extends for five years the tax credit for health insurance coverage.

Small Employer Retirement Savings Auto-Enrollment Credit Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2019

Small Employer Retirement Savings Auto-Enrollment Credit Act This bill allows a three-year $500 business-related tax credit for eligible small employers who include and maintain an automatic contribution arrangement in an employer-sponsored retirement plan. An "eligible employer" is an employer with no more than 100 employees who received at least $5,000 of compensation from the employer for the preceding year.

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to treat as compensation for purposes of retirement contribution limitations any difficulty of care payments excluded from gross income.

United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2019

This bill requires difficulty of care payments that are excluded from gross income to be treated as compensation for the purpose of determining limitations on contributions to tax-exempt retirement accounts. Difficulty of care payments are received by foster care providers as compensation for providing additional care for a foster individual. The care must be (1) required by reason of a physical, mental, or emotional handicap of the individual; and (2) provided in the home of the foster care provider.

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently extend the qualified fuel cell motor vehicles credit.

United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2019

This bill permanently extends the tax credit for new qualified fuel cell motor vehicles. (Under current law, the tax credit expired at the end of 2017.)

Retirement Security for American Workers Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2019

Retirement Security for American Workers Act This bill provides for the application of qualification requirements for certain tax-favored multiple employer pension plans that participate with a pooled plan provider despite differences in such plans. It also requires annual information reports for pooled employer and multiple employer plans.

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently extend the nonbusiness energy property credit.

United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2019

This bill permanently extends the tax credit for nonbusiness energy property, which applies to certain expenditures for energy-efficient improvements or residential energy property. Under current law, the tax credit expired at the end of 2017.

To require notice from the Secretary of the Treasury in the case of any closure of a Taxpayer Assistance Center.

United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2019

This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to provide a publicly available notice at least 90 days before the effective date of a proposed closure of a Taxpayer Assistance Center. The notice must identify (1) the center proposed for closure, (2) the date of the proposed closure, and (3) alternative sources of taxpayer assistance which may be utilized by taxpayers affected by the closure. Treasury must also submit to Congress a report that includes the information in the notice and the reasons for the proposed closure.

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow officers and employees of the Department of the Treasury to provide to taxpayers information regarding low-income taxpayer clinics.

United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2019

This bill allows officers and employees of the Department of the Treasury to (1) advise taxpayers of the availability of, and eligibility requirements for receiving, advice and assistance from low-income taxpayer clinics that receive grants from Treasury; and (2) provide the location and contact information for the clinics.

Expressing the sense of the Congress that tax-exempt fraternal benefit societies have historically and continue to provide critical benefits to Americans and United States communities.

United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2019

This concurrent resolution expresses the sense of the Congress regarding the benefits that tax-exempt fraternal benefit societies provide to the United States.

MOMMA’s Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2019

Mothers and Offspring Mortality and Morbidity Awareness Act or the MOMMA's Act This bill establishes various programs and requirements to support the prevention of maternal mortality. Specifically, the bill requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide technical assistance and best practices for collecting data, standardizing reporting, and preventing maternal mortality. The CDC also must provide grants for state-based collaboratives to improve care immediately before and after birth and improve outcomes for maternal and infant health. Further, the Health Resources and Services Administration must establish a grants program to support national organizations in assisting state-level health care systems to implement standardized, evidence-informed processes for maternal health focusing on reducing maternal mortality. The bill also establishes regional centers to address implicit bias and cultural competency in the delivery of health care services. Specified institutions that provide education and training to health care professionals and focus on maternal mortality are eligible for funding through the program. The bill extends coverage for pregnant and postpartum women under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program for one year postpartum and such coverage is revised to include oral health services. Additionally, the bill (1) increases the excise tax on specified tobacco products, including cigarettes; (2) expands the definition of other tobacco products to include any such product as determined by the Food and Drug Administration; and (3) requires that such products are taxed at a rate equivalent to cigarettes on a per-use basis.

Know Before You Owe Federal Student Loan Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2019

Know Before You Owe Federal Student Loan Act of 2019 This bill expands lender disclosure requirements and modifies loan counseling requirements. A lender must provide a quarterly statement to a Federal Family Education Loan or Direct Loan borrower during a period when loan payments are not required, including specified information on the loan and interest amounts. The statement must also explain the option to pay accrued interest while a student is in deferment or forbearance. The bill requires an institution of higher education (IHE) that participates in federal student aid programs to provide pre-loan counseling to a student borrower of a federal student loan upon or prior to the first disbursement of each new loan. Currently, an IHE must provide one-time entrance counseling to a student who is a first-time federal student loan borrower. The bill also revises and expands required elements of pre-loan counseling to include an estimate of the borrower's monthly payment amount compared to the borrower's estimated monthly income after taxes and other expenses, a statement to borrow the minimum necessary amount, a warning that a high debt-to-income ratio makes repayment more difficult, options to reduce borrowing, and an explanation of the importance of on-time graduation. Prior to certifying a Federal Direct Loan disbursement to a student, an IHE must ensure that the student manually enters the exact dollar amount of the loan.

A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of Congress that tax-exempt fraternal benefit societies have historically provided and continue to provide critical benefits to the people and communities of the United States.

United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2019

This concurrent resolution expresses the sense of Congress regarding the benefits that tax-exempt fraternal benefit societies provide to the United States.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES FISCAL YEAR 2020 BUDGET

United States · United States House of Representatives · 26 March 2019

[H.A.S.C. No. 116-17] The Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Budget Request From The Department of Defense

United States · United States House of Representatives · 26 March 2019

FISCAL YEAR 2020 BUDGET AND 2021 ADVANCED APPROPRIATIONS REQUESTS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

United States · United States Senate · 26 March 2019

[H.A.S.C. No. 116-18]HEARING ON NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020 AND OVERSIGHT OF PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED PROGRAMS

United States · United States House of Representatives · 26 March 2019

No Tax Dollars for the United Nations Climate Agenda Act

United States · United States Congress · 26 March 2019

No Tax Dollars for the United Nations Climate Agenda Act This bill prohibits using federal agency funds to make contributions to or for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or the Green Climate Fund.

VITA Permanence Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 26 March 2019

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Permanence Act of 2019 or the VITA Permanence Act of 2019 This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to establish a Community Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Matching Grant Program to provide matching funds for the development, expansion, or continuation of tax return preparation programs for low-income and underserved populations.

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to require that qualified cash or deferred arrangements allow certain long-term employees to participate.

United States · United States Congress · 26 March 2019

This bill amends provisions of the Internal Revenue Code relating to tax-preferred pension plans and arrangements to provide that qualified cash or deferred arrangements must allow long-term employees working more than 500 but less than 1,000 hours per year to participate in such arrangements.

Enhancing Credit Opportunities in Rural America Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 26 March 2019

Enhancing Credit Opportunities in Rural America Act of 2019 or the ECORA Act of 201 9 This bill modifies the requirements for calculating taxable income to exclude from gross income interest received by a lender from real estate loans secured by agricultural real estate or by a leasehold mortgage (with a status as a lien) on agricultural real estate. Agricultural real estate includes real property that is substantially used for the production of one or more agricultural products. It also includes any single family residence that is (1) the principal residence of its occupant, (2) located in a rural area which is not within a Metropolitan Statistical Area and has a population of 2,500 or less; and (3) is purchased or improved with the proceeds of a loan secured by property used for the production of one or more agricultural products.

Family Health Care Affordability Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 26 March 2019

Family Health Care Affordability Act of 2019 This bill modifies the requirement for determining the affordability of employer-sponsored minimum essential health care coverage under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). (Under current law, the coverage is unaffordable, and an employee may be eligible for premium assistance tax credits, if the employee's required contribution for an individual plan exceeds 9.5% of household income.) The bill specifies that, with respect to an employee's family members who are eligible to enroll in the plan, affordability must be determined using the cost of family coverage rather than individual coverage to expand the eligibility of families for premium assistance tax credits.

Restoring Investment in Improvements Act

United States · United States Congress · 26 March 2019

Restoring Investment in Improvements Act This bill confirms that the applicable recovery period for qualified improvement property (nonresidential real estate) for depreciation purposes is 15 years under the modified accelerated cost recovery system (MACRS) and 20 years under the alternative depreciation system (ADS).

Health Care Affordability Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 26 March 2019

Health Care Affordability Act of 2019 This bill revises the tax credit for health care premium assistance to expand the eligibility of low-income taxpayers for such credit and  reduce the cost of health care premiums.

Presidential Conflicts of Interest Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 26 March 2019

Presidential Conflicts of Interest Act of 2019 This bill requires the President and Vice President to submit to Congress and the Office of Government Ethics a disclosure of financial interests. The President and Vice President shall (1) include a detailed description of each financial interest of the President and Vice President, the spouse of the President and Vice President, or a minor child of the President and Vice President; and (2) include the tax returns filed by or on behalf of the President and Vice President for the three most recent taxable years. The President, the Vice President, the spouse of the President or Vice President, and any minor child of the President or Vice President must divest any financial interest posing a potential conflict of interest by transferring such interest to a qualified blind trust. The Office of Government Ethics shall submit to Congress, the President, and the Vice President an annual report regarding the financial interests of such officials, their spouses, and any of their minor children.

Ending Homelessness Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 25 March 2019

Ending Homelessness Act of 2019 This bill provides additional funding for, and otherwise addresses, assistance to homeless individuals and families. The funding provided by the bill is designated as emergency spending, which is exempt from discretionary spending limits. Specifically, the bill provides additional FY2020-FY2024 funding for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to (1) award emergency relief grants to address unmet needs of homeless populations in jurisdictions with the highest need, and (2) provide additional incremental rental voucher assistance for individuals and families who are homeless. The bill also provides FY2020-FY2024 funding for HUD to award grants to provide outreach and coordinate services for individuals and families who are homeless or formerly homeless. Further, the bill provides additional annual funding beginning in FY2019 for the Housing Trust Fund (dedicated to affordable housing for extremely low-income and very low-income families) and incremental project-based voucher and rental assistance. During the first five fiscal years in which such additional funding is available, HUD must ensure that priority for occupancy in assisted units is given to individuals and families who are homeless. Further, units receiving such assistance may not require families to contribute more than 30% of their adjusted income towards rent. Additionally, the bill provides funding for HUD to provide technical assistance to states, local governments, and nonprofit organizations to integrate and coordinate homeless assistance with federal health care programs. Finally, the bill permanently reauthorizes certain homeless assistance grants and makes permanent the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.

Middle Class Tax Deduction Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 25 March 2019

Middle Class Tax Deduction Act of 2019 This bill reinstates certain miscellaneous itemized tax deductions (e.g., deductions for unreimbursed employee expenses) as allowable deductions. Presently, the deductions are suspended through 2025. The bill reinstates the limitation on itemized tax deductions for an individual whose adjusted gross income exceeds a specified amount. Presently, the limitation is suspended through 2025.

Working Parents Flexibility Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 25 March 2019

Working Parents Flexibility Act of 201 9 This bill allows tax-exempt parental leave savings accounts for the care of a child. An individual who has earned income from employment during the past 12 months may make tax deductible cash contributions of up to $6,750 in a taxable year to an account. The total contributions to an account for all taxable years may not exceed $24,000. Taxpayers whose adjusted gross income exceeds $250,000 in a taxable year are ineligible for such a tax deduction. The bill excludes from gross income (1) distributions from a parental leave savings account that are made not later than one year after the birth or adoption of a child of an account holder, and (2) contributions made by an employer to the parental leave savings account of an employee.

Spill Response and Prevention Surety Act

United States · United States Congress · 25 March 2019

Spill Response and Prevention Surety Act This bill provides support for responding to oil spills. Specifically, it makes permanent and modifies the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, which provides funds to pay removal costs and claims for damages resulting from oil spills into navigable waters of the United States. Under current law, the fund is financed primarily by an excise tax on domestic crude oil and imported petroleum products. The bill expands the definition of crude oil for purposes of such tax to include any bitumen or bituminous mixture as well as any oil derived from a bitumen or bituminous mixture. The bill revises requirements governing the use of the funds. For example, the bill doubles the limit placed on expenditures from the fund that may be used for (1) any single incident, or (2) natural resource damages. In addition, the bill allows the fund to be used for carrying out grant programs established by this bill. The Department of Homeland Security must biennially award grants to eligible institutions of higher education for oil spill response research and technology development activities and programs as well as oil spill prevention activities and programs. Grants may also be given to states for oil spill prevention activities and programs.

Enhancing Human Rights Protections in Arms Sales Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 25 March 2019

Enhancing Human Rights Protections in Arms Sales Act of 2019 This bill requires the Department of State to certify that a proposed recipient of certain controlled defense articles and services complies with various human rights-related requirements. For each proposed export of articles and services that fall within certain categories of the U.S. Munitions List, excluding ground-based missile defense systems, the State Department shall make various certifications, including that during the fiscal year in which the transfer will take place, the articles or services will not be used in hostilities where the receiving government has committed gross violations of internationally recognized human rights; during the last three fiscal years and the one in which the transfer took place, the receiving government has not ordered ethnic cleansing or used child soldiers; and the receiving government will facilitate unfettered civilian access to humanitarian relief in any conflict it is engaged in. The State Department shall report to Congress if it learns of facts that contradict a certification made in the last three years. The President may waive the certification requirement for national security purposes, unless Congress enacts a joint resolution prohibiting the transaction. The State Department shall report to Congress a strategy to ensure human rights protections for U.S. military assistance and arms transfers. The bill expands an existing monitoring program to include monitoring to ensure that arms and services exported as foreign assistance are not being used by non-state actors and proxies for committing gross human rights abuses.

CAPITAL Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 21 March 2019

Creating Advancement and Personal Improvement in Targeted American Localities Act of 2019 or the CAPITAL Act of 2019 This bill allows opportunity zones to be designated every 10 years. (Opportunity zones are certain low-income areas in which various tax incentives are available for investments in the zones. Under current law, the existing designations expire after 10 years, and no additional designations are permitted.)

Disaster Recovery and Opportunity Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 21 March 2019

Disaster Recovery and Opportunity Act of 201 9 This bill allows the chief executive officer (e.g., governor) of a state to designate certain population census tracts in areas related to federally declared disasters as opportunity zones. This makes investments in the areas eligible for various tax incentives.

GAP Act

United States · United States Congress · 21 March 2019

Graduate Assistants Parity Act or the GAP Act This bill modifies the requirements for calculating taxable income to allow all graduate students who are employees of educational organizations to exclude tuition reductions from gross income. (Under current law, the exclusion for graduate students is limited to teaching and research assistants.)

Kids to College Act

United States · United States Congress · 18 March 2019

Kids to College Act This bill provides for income-share agreements whereby a student agrees to pay a percentage of future income, for a specified period of time, in exchange for funds to pay for educational expenses. The bill places caps on the percentage of a student's future income that may go towards repayment, provides income minimums under which the required payment is zero, and establishes limitations on the length of these agreements. The bill provides for the treatment of these agreements under various laws, including tax, securities, and consumer finance laws.

No Tax Deductions for Sexual Harasser Buyouts Act

United States · United States Congress · 18 March 2019

No Tax Deductions for Sexual Harasser Buyouts Act This bill modifies the tax deduction for trade or business expenses to deny a deduction for payments made to any employee in connection with the termination of employment if a factor in the termination was sexual assault, sexual harassment, or any other sexual misconduct by the employee.

STOP Act

United States · United States Congress · 18 March 2019

Students and Teachers Over Politicians Act or the STOP Act This bill terminates (1) the taxpayer election to designate $3 of income tax liability for financing of presidential election campaigns, (2) the Presidential Election Campaign Fund, and (3) the Presidential Primary Matching Payment Account. Of the funds remaining in the Presidential Election Campaign Fund, the Department of the Treasury must transfer $37.8 million to the 10-Year Pediatric Research Initiative Fund. To the extent that funding is provided in advance in appropriations Acts, Treasury must transfer the remainder of the funds to the Department of Education to carry out activities under title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.

Improving Assistance for Taxpayers Act

United States · United States Congress · 18 March 2019

Improving Assistance for Taxpayers Act This bill requires the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to respond to Taxpayer Advocate Directives within specified time frames. In the case of a Taxpayer Advocate Directive issued by the National Taxpayer Advocate (NTA) pursuant to a delegation of authority from the IRS, the IRS Commissioner or a Deputy Commissioner must modify, rescind, or ensure compliance with the directive within 90 days. If a directive is modified or rescinded by a Deputy Commissioner, the NTA may appeal to the Commissioner. Within 90 days of the appeal, the Commissioner must either ensure compliance with the directive or provide a description of the reasons for any modification or rescission made or upheld pursuant to the appeal. The bill also requires the NTA annual report to identify any directive that was not honored by the IRS in a timely manner, as required by this bill.

ABLE Age Adjustment Act

United States · United States Congress · 18 March 2019

ABLE Age Adjustment Act This bill increases from 26 to 46 the age threshold for tax-favored ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) accounts. (ABLE accounts are designed to enable individuals with disabilities to save for and pay for disability-related expenses. To establish an account, an individual must have a qualifying impairment that began before the individual attained the age threshold.)

PRESIDENT'S FISCAL YEAR 2020 HEALTH CARE PROPOSALS

United States · United States Senate · 14 March 2019

PRESIDENT'S FISCAL YEAR 2020 BUDGET

United States · United States Senate · 14 March 2019

DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020

United States · United States Senate · 14 March 2019

[H.A.S.C. No. 116-16]HEARING ON NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020 AND OVERSIGHT OF PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED PROGRAMS

United States · United States House of Representatives · 14 March 2019

Partner with Korea Act

United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2019

Partner with Korea Act This bill creates an E-4 treaty trader visa category for up to 15,000 nationals of South Korea each fiscal year who are coming to the United States solely to perform specialty occupation services, subject to various requirements. The 15,000 limit shall only apply to principal aliens and not the spouses or children of such aliens. A specialty occupation is one that requires the theoretical and practical application of highly specialized knowledge and a bachelor's degree or higher.

Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2019

Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2019 This bill increases the number of residency positions eligible for graduate medical education payments under Medicare for qualifying hospitals, with an aggregate increase of 3,000 positions per fiscal year for five years. Of these positions, at least one-third must be for hospitals that are already operating above applicable resident limits, subject to specified distribution rules.