Senate passes three of Sen. Tim Scott’s bills to strengthen taxpayer protections

WASHINGTON - Three bills introduced by U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) unanimously passed the Senate as part of the Taxpayer Assistance and Service (TAS) Act, legislation aimed at modernizing IRS technology, strengthening customer service standards, and protecting taxpayer rights in disputes. Sen. Scott's provisions include the IRS Accountability and Taxpayer Protection Act, the Tax Court Parity Act, and the Tax Relief for Innocent Spouses Act.

"Hardworking Americans deserve a tax system that works for them, not against them. My three bills strengthen taxpayer protections and fix inconsistencies in our tax system so Americans are treated fairly," said Sen. Scott. "By unanimously passing these commonsense reforms, the Senate is making it clear that the American people should not have to pay the price for flaws in our tax system. I'll continue standing up for American taxpayers and fighting to help them keep more of their hard-earned money where it belongs - in their pockets, not the government's."

The IRS Accountability and Taxpayer Protection Act aims to protect taxpayers from improper or automated penalties by requiring IRS employees to get approval from a supervisor before approving or denying penalties.

The Tax Court Parity Act would protect taxpayers' rights by granting the Tax Court the authority to review and correct decisions in prior cases in limited circumstances of clerical errors, newly discovered evidence, fraud or misconduct concerns, or defective judgments.

Lastly, the Tax Relief for Innocent Spouses Act would provide innocent spouses relief from tax debts caused by their spouse's hidden incomes or mistakes by allowing the Tax Court to review the full scope of evidence in appeal cases. This protection is essential for spouses facing domestic abuse or who lack access to financial information.

Full text of the legislation can be found here.

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