HR 8130
Filer Voter Act
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Bill overview
The Filer Voter Act amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require certain tax return preparers who prepare at least 100 individual tax returns annually to provide voter registration application forms to their clients. Preparers can meet this requirement by displaying forms in their offices or providing a hyperlink to an online registration form. The legislation also addresses the responsibilities of the Department of the Treasury in supporting certified volunteer tax preparers who assist with voter registration.
Key provisions
- Tax return preparers with at least 100 tax returns annually must offer voter registration forms.
- Preparers can meet requirements by displaying forms in their offices or providing online hyperlinks.
- The Election Assistance Commission will create a standard online voter registration form.
- The Department of the Treasury will provide guidance and support to certified volunteer tax preparers.
- A revised intake form will be used by volunteer tax preparers to offer voter registration assistance.
- Volunteer tax preparation sites must prominently display voter registration forms.
- Certain requirements related to form acceptance, provision, and deadlines are excluded for tax preparers.
- The law applies to taxable years beginning after December 2021.
Who is affected
- Tax return preparers (those preparing 100+ individual returns)
- Taxpayers receiving tax preparation services
- State election officials
- Certified volunteer tax preparers
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119th CONGRESS — 2d Session
H. R. 8130
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to treat certain tax return preparers as voter registration agencies under such Act for purposes of distributing voter registration application forms, and for other purposes.
This Act may be cited as the Tax Filer Voter Registration Act Filer Voter Act
or the
.
Section 7 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20506) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
A tax return preparer who provides tax return preparation services to customers through online methods may meet the requirements applicable to the tax return preparer under this section—
by providing a hyperlink to the mail voter registration application form developed by the Election Assistance Commission under section 9(a)(2), or to the website of the appropriate election official through which an individual may register to vote online, through the same computer software, service, or program by which the tax return preparer provides services to the customer online; and
by ensuring that the hyperlink is prominently displayed to each customer who receives any tax return preparation services from the tax return preparer.
A tax return preparer shall not be required to meet the following requirements of this section which are otherwise applicable to a voter registration agency designated by the State for purposes of this section:
Clause (iii) of subsection (a)(4)(A) (relating to the acceptance of completed voter registration application forms for transmittal to the appropriate State election official).
Subparagraph (B) of subsection (a)(6) (relating to the provision of the form by which an individual may apply to register to vote at a voter registration agency and related forms and statements).
Subsection (d) (relating to the deadline for the transmittal of completed voter registration application forms to the appropriate State election official).
In this subsection, the term tax return preparer means—
a tax return preparer described in section 7701(a)(36) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, other than a tax return preparer who—
during the taxable year, reasonably expects to prepare fewer than 100 individual tax returns; or
during the previous taxable year, prepared fewer than 100 individual tax returns; or
The Election Assistance Commission, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall promulgate such regulations as the Commission considers appropriate to carry out this subsection.
The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to taxable years occurring after December 2021.
The Secretary of the Treasury shall revise the intake and interview and quality review sheet provided to an individual who utilizes the services of certified volunteer preparers to include the following question: Do you want to receive a form today to register to vote or update your voter registration information?
, as well as a box for the individual to check to indicate whether or not the individual wants to receive such a form.