Skip to main content
HR 3641 115th Congress House Taxation Computer security and identity theft Computers and information technology Fraud offenses and financial crimes Intergovernmental relations Internet and video services Internet, web applications, social media Public-private cooperation State and local government operations Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Free File Permanence Act of 2017

Introduced: September 25, 2017 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 115th Congress ended
It never became law before the 115th Congress (2017–2018) 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
Aug 4, 2017
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Aug 4, 2017
Introduced in House
 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.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Free File Permanence Act of 2017

This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to continue to operate the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Free File Program.

The program must work with state government agencies to enhance and expand the use of the program, while continuing to:

  • provide free commercial-type online individual income tax preparation and electronic filing services to the lowest 70% of taxpayers by income;
  • provide all taxpayers (regardless of income) with a basic, online electronic fillable forms utility; and
  • work with the private sector to provide the free tax preparation and electronic filing services.

Treasury must work with the private sector through the program to identify and implement innovative new program features to improve and simplify the taxpayer's experience with completing and filing individual income tax returns.

The IRS and members of the tax software and electronic industry involved in the program must support and promote improvements within the program by mutually testing, piloting, and offering innovative solutions to:

  • simplify the tax system,
  • reduce compliance and reporting burdens,
  • increase tax return accuracy through financial data authentication,
  • strengthen the tax system against fraud through cybersecurity collaboration,
  • avoid duplication, and
  • maximize the use of electronic technology.

The Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee must report annually to Congress regarding the program, including website statistics, cybersecurity standards, demographic information, marketing and education efforts, simplifications and innovations, and state and local participation.

What's happening now August 4, 2017

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 90
D
Espaillat, Adriano
New York · Jun 6, 2018
Mitchell, Paul
· Apr 25, 2018
Graves, Tom
· Mar 20, 2018
R
Grothman, Glenn
Wisconsin · Mar 6, 2018
R
Newhouse, Dan
Washington · Feb 13, 2018
R
Perry, Scott
Pennsylvania · Feb 13, 2018
R
Joyce, David P.
Ohio · Feb 5, 2018
SMITH, LAMAR
· Feb 5, 2018
R
Rouzer, David
North Carolina · Jan 30, 2018
D
Plaskett, Stacey E.
Virgin Islands · Jan 9, 2018
Zeldin, Lee
· Jan 9, 2018
R
McCaul, Michael T.
Texas · Dec 21, 2017
R
Rutherford, John H.
Florida · Dec 5, 2017
R
Budd, Ted
North Carolina · Nov 28, 2017
D
Clarke, Yvette D.
New York · Nov 28, 2017
R
Harris, Andy
Maryland · Nov 28, 2017
Rooney, Thomas
· Nov 28, 2017
R
Allen, Rick W.
Georgia · Nov 2, 2017
Ferguson, A.
· Nov 2, 2017
JOHNSON, SAM
· Nov 2, 2017
R
Blackburn, Marsha
Tennessee · Oct 25, 2017
D
Kelly, Robin L.
Illinois · Oct 25, 2017
Walker, Mark
· Oct 25, 2017
R
Foxx, Virginia
North Carolina · Oct 19, 2017
R
Huizenga, Bill
Michigan · Oct 19, 2017
D
Johnson, Henry C. "Hank"
Georgia · Oct 19, 2017
McHenry, Patrick
· Oct 19, 2017
D
Moore, Gwen
Wisconsin · Oct 19, 2017
Rokita, Todd
· Oct 19, 2017
Black, Diane
· Oct 6, 2017
D
Chu, Judy
California · Oct 6, 2017
Curbelo, Carlos
· Oct 6, 2017
GOODLATTE, ROBERT
· Oct 6, 2017
D
Himes, James A.
Connecticut · Oct 6, 2017
Young, David
· Oct 6, 2017
R
Smith, Jason
Missouri · Sep 27, 2017
D
Smith, Adam
Washington · Sep 27, 2017
D
Beatty, Joyce
Ohio · Sep 25, 2017
Bishop, Mike
· Sep 25, 2017
D
Bishop, Sanford D.
Georgia · Sep 25, 2017
R
Calvert, Ken
California · Sep 25, 2017
D
Cohen, Steve
Tennessee · Sep 25, 2017
R
Dunn, Neal P.
Florida · Sep 25, 2017
Farenthold, Blake
· Sep 25, 2017
Jenkins, Lynn
· Sep 25, 2017
R
Kelly, Mike
Pennsylvania · Sep 25, 2017
D
Larson, John B.
Connecticut · Sep 25, 2017
Meehan, Patrick
· Sep 25, 2017
Messer, Luke
· Sep 25, 2017
Nunes, Devin
· Sep 25, 2017
Page 1 of 2 Next
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3641: Free File Permanence Act of 2017. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-3641/
MLA
"H.R. 3641: Free File Permanence Act of 2017." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-3641/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3641, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-3641/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3641: Free File Permanence Act of 2017](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-3641/)
Report a problem