[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 508 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 508

    To allow a refundable credit against Federal income tax for the 
purchase of digital-to-analog converter boxes for taxpayers who did not 
                              use coupons.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 14, 2009

Mr. Braley of Iowa introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
 the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on 
Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
  Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To allow a refundable credit against Federal income tax for the 
purchase of digital-to-analog converter boxes for taxpayers who did not 
                              use coupons.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``DTV Converter Box Rebate Act of 
2009''.

SEC. 2. REFUNDABLE TAX CREDIT FOR THE PURCHASE OF DIGITAL-TO-ANALOG 
              CONVERTER BOXES.

    (a) Allowance of Credit.--In the case of an individual, there shall 
be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by chapter 1 of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for the taxable year an amount equal to 
$40 for each digital-to-analog converter box purchased by the taxpayer 
during the taxable year.
    (b) Limitations.--
            (1) Maximum amount.--The credit allowed under subsection 
        (a) shall not exceed $80.
            (2) Reduction of credit amount for coupon redemption.--The 
        credit allowed under subsection (a) shall be reduced by $40 for 
        each digital-to-analog converter box coupon redeemed by the 
        taxpayer.
    (c) Definitions.--For purposes of this Act--
            (1) Coupon.--The term ``digital-to-analog converter box 
        coupon'' means a coupon (or similar method of payment 
        assistance) issued under section 3005 of the Digital Television 
        Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-171; 
        120 Stat. 23).
            (2) Converter box.--The term ``digital-to-analog converter 
        box'' means a digital-to-analog converter box described in 
        section 3005(d) of such Act which was purchased by the taxpayer 
        after January 1, 2009, but before June 30, 2009.
    (d)  Credit Refundable.--For purposes of the Internal Revenue Code 
of 1986, the credit allowed under subsection (a) shall be treated as 
allowed under subpart C of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
    (e) Regulations.--The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation 
with the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information of the 
Department of Commerce, shall prescribe such regulations and other 
guidance as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes 
of this section and to prevent allowance of a credit with respect to 
any taxpayer who purchases a digital-to-analog converter box for which 
a digital-to-analog converter box coupon has been redeemed.

SEC. 3. EDUCATION EFFORT.

    The Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information of the 
Department of Commerce shall take appropriate actions to educate 
consumers and retailers about the tax credit established under section 
2 as an alternative to requesting and redeeming a digital-to-analog 
converter box coupon.
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