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HR 3479 113th Congress House

Small Business Taxpayer Bill of Rights Act of 2013

Official title: To provide a taxpayer bill of rights for small businesses.

Introduced: November 13, 2013 See on congress.gov
Taxation Administrative remediesAlternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitrationBankruptcyCivil actions and liability
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Department of the TreasuryEmployee performanceFederal appellate courtsGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment ethics and transparency, public corruptionGovernment liabilityInternal Revenue Service (IRS)Jurisdiction and venueLegal fees and court costsRight of privacySmall businessSpecialized courtsTax administration and collection, taxpayersUser charges and fees
This bill died when the 113th Congress ended
It never became law before the 113th Congress (2013–2014) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Nov 13, 2013
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Nov 13, 2013
Introduced in House
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 Latest action November 13, 2013

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Small Business Taxpayer Bill of Rights Act of 2013 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow businesses with average annual gross receipts of not more than $50,000 that prevail in an administrative or court proceeding involving the determination, collection, or refund of tax, interest, or penalty to recover their costs incurred in such proceedings; (2) increase the amount of civil damages against Internal Revenue Service (IRS) officers or employees for reckless, intentional, or negligent disregard of internal revenue laws and extend from two to five years the period for bringing a claim for damages; (3) increase the penalties against federal officers or employees for unlawful acts in connection with internal revenue laws and for unauthorized disclosures or inspections of tax returns; and (4) allow a taxpayer whose interest abatement claim does not exceed $50,000 to elect to bring a small tax case petition in U.S. Tax Court.

Prohibits ex parte communications between officers in the IRS Office of Appeals and other IRS employees with respect to matters pending before such officers and employees.

Authorizes new alternative dispute resolution procedures for taxpayer disputes with the IRS.

Extends to three years: (1) the period in which taxpayer property that has been wrongfully levied upon may be returned, and (2) the period for bringing suit against the United States for a wrongful tax levy.

Authorizes the waiver of the fee for establishing an installment agreement for payment of tax for certain low-income taxpayers who agree to make electronic debit payments.

Allows a taxpayer seeking review of a claim for innocent spouse relief or of a collection case in U.S. Tax Court a 60-day suspension of the period for filing a petition for such review when the U.S. Bankruptcy Court has issued an automatic stay in a bankruptcy case involving the taxpayer's claim.

Allows de novo review in U.S. Tax Court of any determination by the IRS with respect to a claim for equitable innocent spouse relief.

Prohibits the IRS Office of Appeals from considering or deciding any new issue in an internal appeal that is not within the scope of the initial determination made in a taxpayer's case.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3479: Small Business Taxpayer Bill of Rights Act of 2013. 113th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-3479/
MLA
"H.R. 3479: Small Business Taxpayer Bill of Rights Act of 2013." 113th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-3479/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3479, 113th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-3479/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3479: Small Business Taxpayer Bill of Rights Act of 2013](https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-3479/)
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