Skip to main content
S 2736 113th Congress Senate

Tax Refund Theft Prevention Act of 2014

Official title: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to prevent identity theft related tax refund fraud, and for other purposes.

Introduced: July 31, 2014 See on congress.gov
Taxation Computer security and identity theftCongressional oversightCrime victimsEmployee hiring
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Fraud offenses and financial crimesGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsInternet and video servicesInternet, web applications, social mediaTax administration and collection, taxpayers
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
Jul 31, 2014
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5222-5224)
Jul 31, 2014
Introduced in Senate
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Latest action July 31, 2014

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5222-5224)

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Tax Refund Theft Prevention Act of 2014 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) establish a safe harbor rule for errors on tax information and payee statements to treat such statements as correctly filed if there are one or more errors on such statements and no single erroneous amount differs from the correct amount by more than $25; (2) require any tax return that is prepared electronically, but is printed and filed on paper, to bear a code which can, when scanned, convert such return to an electronic format; (3) impose a fine and/or prison term on any person who willfully misappropriates another person's taxpayer identity; (4) require a tax statement reporting wages and other tax information to show an identifying number for the employee (currently, requires the employee's social security number); (5) increase civil and criminal penalties for tax return preparers who improperly disclose or use tax return information; (6) enhance requirements relating to electronic filing of tax returns and the filing of W-2 and 1099 forms; and (7) impose a due diligence requirement on tax return preparers to verify the identity of a taxpayer for whom they file a return or refund claim.

Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1)  make available on a website resources and guidance that will allow taxpayers to prepare and file (in batches of not more than 50) forms 1099, prepare forms 1099 for distribution to recipients other than the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and create and maintain necessary taxpayer records; (2) establish a single point of contact with an IRS employee for taxpayers whose tax returns have been delayed or affected due to misappropriation of the taxpayer's identity; (3) implement a password system for the prevention of identity theft tax fraud; (4) issue regulations that restrict the delivery or deposit of multiple individual income tax refunds from the same tax year to the same individual account or mailing address; and (5) report on the extent and nature of fraud involving the use of misappropriated taxpayer identity.

Grants the Secretary access to information in the National Directory of New Hires for the sole purpose of identifying and preventing fraudulent tax return filings and claims for tax refunds.

Amends the federal criminal code to include within the definition of aggravated identity theft the misappropriation of taxpayer identity in connection with tax fraud.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 2736: Tax Refund Theft Prevention Act of 2014. 113th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-2736/
MLA
"S. 2736: Tax Refund Theft Prevention Act of 2014." 113th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-2736/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 2736, 113th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-2736/.
Markdown link
[S. 2736: Tax Refund Theft Prevention Act of 2014](https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-2736/)
Report a problem