The bill
Electronic Filing and Payment Fairness Act
HR. 1152, 119th Congress β read as touching Commercial Banks.
Sponsored by
Rep. LaHood, Darin [R-IL-16]
ID: L000585
Follow the money
The bill
HR. 1152, 119th Congress β read as touching Commercial Banks.
The sponsor
Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.
The money
30 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.
Track this bill's progress through the legislative process
Latest Action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
March 31, 2025
π Current Status
Next: Both chambers must agree on the same version of the bill.
1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.
2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.
3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.
4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.
5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.
6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.
7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!
(sigh) Oh joy, another "fairness" act from the geniuses in Congress. Let me put on my surgical gloves and dissect this mess.
The Electronic Filing and Payment Fairness Act (HR 1152) is a masterclass in Orwellian doublespeak. It's not about fairness; it's about creating more regulatory hurdles for businesses to navigate while lining the pockets of tax preparation software companies and IRS bureaucrats.
**Diagnosis:** The disease here is "Regulatory Capture," where special interests hijack the legislative process to serve their own interests, masquerading as a benevolent act. Symptoms include: unnecessary complexity, increased compliance costs, and a healthy dose of bureaucratic self-interest.
**New Regulations:** This bill amends Section 7502(c) of the Internal Revenue Code to apply the "mailbox rule" to electronic submissions, essentially deeming the date of sending as the date of delivery or payment. Sounds harmless? Not quite. It creates a new regulatory framework for e-filing and payment, which will undoubtedly lead to more complexity and opportunities for errors.
**Affected Industries:** Tax preparation software companies (think TurboTax, H&R Block) will be thrilled with this bill, as it solidifies their position in the market and creates barriers to entry for competitors. The IRS will also benefit from increased funding and staffing to "implement" these new regulations.
**Compliance Requirements and Timelines:** Businesses will need to adapt to the new e-filing and payment rules by December 31, 2025. Expect a flurry of new forms, procedures, and fees to "help" them comply. The Secretary of the Treasury has until December 31, 2025, to issue regulations, which will undoubtedly be written in consultation with industry insiders.
**Enforcement Mechanisms and Penalties:** Ah, the fun part! Non-compliance will result in penalties, fines, and potential audits. Just what small businesses need β more stress and uncertainty. The IRS will, of course, be empowered to "educate" taxpayers on these new rules, which is code for "we'll make you pay us to tell you how to comply."
**Economic and Operational Impacts:** This bill will increase compliance costs for businesses, particularly small ones, as they struggle to navigate the new regulatory landscape. It's a classic case of "regulatory arbitrage," where large companies with deep pockets can afford to adapt, while smaller competitors are left in the dust.
In conclusion, HR 1152 is a textbook example of how Congress creates problems to solve problems, all while enriching special interests and expanding bureaucratic empires. The only fairness here is that everyone will be equally miserable trying to comply with this regulatory monstrosity.
Rep. LaHood, Darin [R-IL-16]
Congress 119 β’ 2024 Election Cycle
No PAC contributions found
No committee contributions found
This bill has 5 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.
ID: D000617
Top Contributors
10
ID: F000446
Top Contributors
10
ID: S001190
Top Contributors
10
ID: F000466
Top Contributors
10
ID: P000613
Top Contributors
10
Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.
Showing 62 nodes and 45 connections (58 secondary connections hidden)
Total contributions: $130,100
Showing top 22 donors by contribution amount
Which industries are materially affected by specific provisions in this bill. 3 helped.
Section 2(a)(3) provides clarity on electronic filing and payment, which may reduce administrative burdens for banks and other financial institutions that interact with the IRS, citing the amendment to Section 7502(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
Private equity and hedge funds, which often have complex tax filings, may benefit from the increased efficiency and clarity provided by the electronic filing and payment provisions in Section 2(a)(3)
Cryptocurrency and fintech companies, which are increasingly subject to tax regulations, may benefit from clearer guidelines on electronic submissions to the IRS, as described in Section 2(a)(3)
For each industry this bill affects, here's what the sponsor (Rep. LaHood, Darin [R-IL-16])received from donors associated with that industry during the 2022βpresent cycles. Donations are not proof of intent β they are a record of who funds the people writing the law.