[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 241 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 241

 Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding tax simplification and 
    the adoption in 1998 of 10 tax changes to reduce individual tax 
                    preparation time by 60 minutes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 11, 1998

  Mr. Vento submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
              referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding tax simplification and 
    the adoption in 1998 of 10 tax changes to reduce individual tax 
                    preparation time by 60 minutes.

Whereas the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is too complicated for the average 
        taxpayer, requiring excessive time and professional assistance to 
        prepare and to submit even the most basic of tax returns;
Whereas, in 1998, it will take the average taxpayer 15 hours and 45 minutes to 
        maintain the required documentation, prepare, and file a basic tax 
        return of Form 1040 and Schedules A and B;
Whereas the time to complete other individual tax forms such as Schedule C, 
        business profit or loss, can add over 10 hours in preparation time for 
        the average taxpayer;
Whereas the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 rather than simplifying the individual 
        tax return will further complicate tax compliance for the average 
        taxpayer through such changes as the new, complex individual retirement 
        accounts and changes resulting in being subjected to the Alternative 
        Minimum Tax;
Whereas the Earned Income Tax Credit, devised to assist low-income families and 
        reward work, has been changed twelve times in twenty years, contains 
        nine eligibility standards and could require the taxpayer to complete 
        one checklist, two worksheets, one schedule, and a normal 1040 Form;
Whereas the House of Representatives recognizes the complexity of the Internal 
        Revenue Code of 1986 and has approved legislation which would require 
        complexity analysis of all new tax proposals considered by Congress;
Whereas the National Commission on Restructuring the Internal Revenue Service 
        and various private organizations have issued specific recommendations 
        for tax simplification;
Whereas over 600 bills have been introduced in the House of Representatives and 
        Senate to amend the tax code with no Congressional or public consensus 
        over the direction or wisdom of comprehensive tax proposals;
Whereas some proposed, comprehensive tax reforms, such as a flat tax or a 
        national sales tax, in the name of simplification, would eliminate 
        deductions and credits that benefit middle class, working families, such 
        as the home interest and charitable contributions deductions, or would 
        treat as taxable income worker fringe benefits currently not taxed;
Whereas any tax system resulting from future changes will evolve and include 
        provisions at least as complex as the current tax code; and
Whereas the American people deserve tax simplification, a tax code that is 
        understandable, and a tax return that they can file without the need of 
        professional services: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This concurrent resolution may be cited as the ``10 for 60 
Resolution''.

SEC. 2. RECOGNITIONS.

    The Congress recognizes that--
            (1) tax simplification can save taxpayers time and money;
            (2) tax simplification must be a national priority;
            (3) tax simplification can be accomplished on a timely and 
        revenue neutral basis; and
            (4) tax simplification will enable and empower taxpayers to 
        readily understand, file, and conform to the tax laws.

SEC. 3. DIRECTIVES.

    The Congress directs the Department of the Treasury and the 
appropriate House of Representatives and Senate committees to 
identify--
            (1) regulatory changes or legislative changes to simplify 
        the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and to reduce the average 
        time for preparation of individual income tax returns by 8 
        hours over the next 10 years; and
            (2) for action in 1998, ten revenue neutral regulations or 
        legislative changes that will reduce the time for individual 
        taxpayers to prepare and file individual income tax returns by 
        at least 60 minutes.
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