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Health & Fitness

Legislative Package to Help Small Businesses under IRS' Heavy Hand

Washington, DC — U.S. Representative Randy Hultgren (IL-14) has co-sponsored two important pieces of legislation aimed at relieving the heavy burdens placed on small businesses by the IRS, so that these businesses can start hiring again. The small business package includes H.R. 3169, the IRS Rulemaking Fairness Act of 2013, and H.R. 3479, the Small Business Taxpayer Bill of Rights Act of 2013.

“From the mom-and-pop coffee shop to the high-tech manufacturer, small businesses employ millions of Americans and are the engine of our economy,” said Rep. Hultgren. “But I have heard loud and clear from business leaders in my district—from Gurnee to Geneva—that their efforts to hire and grow are hampered by burdensome rules and red tape handed down by a powerful IRS. Small businesses should be spending their efforts innovating and expanding, not dealing with the unintended consequences of confusing and harmful regulations. These two bills will ensure our core job creators receive some relief from an increasingly aggressive IRS and get back to doing what they do best.”

Currently, the IRS is the only agency not required to report on the impact a proposed rule would have on small businesses. H.R. 3169 would add the IRS to the list of agencies required to certify that a proposed rule will not have significant negative impacts on small businesses, ensuring that the IRS considers their interests during the rulemaking process.

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Disputes over the IRS’ complex and confusing tax system can be costly to small businesses who are simply trying to comply. H.R. 3479 would protect businesses from abusive IRS claims and hold the agency more accountable to taxpayers. Among other provisions, H.R. 3479 makes more small businesses eligible to recoup attorney’s fees if an IRS action is found to be unjustified. The bill also increases the amount of damages taxpayers can collect from the IRS in the case of reckless collection or improperly disclosing tax information, and provides for a party independent from the IRS to handle dispute resolutions and arbitration.

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