Legis Daily

Tax Court Improvement Act

USA119th CongressHR-5349| House 
| Updated: 12/2/2025
Nathaniel Moran

Nathaniel Moran

Republican Representative

Texas

Cosponsors (1)
Terri A. Sewell (Democratic)

Ways and Means Committee, Finance Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to improve taxpayer services by expanding the authority of the Tax Court and its special trial judges. Section 2 allows judges to administer oaths, issue subpoenas for attendance and documents, and conduct depositions before hearings, thereby facilitating settlement and discovery. Section 3 authorizes special trial judges to hear additional cases, including contempt proceedings, and grants them incidental powers limited to penalties no greater than a Class C misdemeanor. The amendments also require the Tax Court to adopt rules for consent procedures, ensuring parties can agree to the assignment of cases to special trial judges. These changes aim to streamline proceedings and increase judicial oversight for taxpayers. Section 4 incorporates federal disqualification standards for judges and special trial judges, applying Section 455 of the U.S. Code to all Tax Court proceedings. Section 5 clarifies that the Tax Court may toll the filing period for deficiency petitions when equity warrants it, and it specifies tolling rules for inaccessible filing locations, adding a 14‑day grace period. The act also sets effective dates tied to the adoption of implementing rules and limits the application of the new tolling provisions to filings made after enactment. By expanding subpoena authority, clarifying contempt powers, and ensuring equitable tolling, the bill seeks to provide taxpayers with more efficient and fair judicial review. The overall impact is a more responsive Tax Court system that better balances enforcement with taxpayer rights.

Bill Text Versions

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4 versions available

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Timeline
Sep 15, 2025
Introduced in House
Sep 15, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Sep 17, 2025
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 40 - 0.
Sep 17, 2025
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Oct 3, 2025
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 287.
Oct 3, 2025
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-335.
Dec 1, 2025
Mr. Smith (MO) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Dec 1, 2025
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4942-4944)
Dec 1, 2025
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5349.
Dec 1, 2025
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4942-4944)
Dec 1, 2025
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4942-4944)
Dec 1, 2025
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Dec 2, 2025
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
  • September 15, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • September 15, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.


  • September 17, 2025
    Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 40 - 0.


  • September 17, 2025
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held


  • October 3, 2025
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 287.


  • October 3, 2025
    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-335.


  • December 1, 2025
    Mr. Smith (MO) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.


  • December 1, 2025
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4942-4944)


  • December 1, 2025
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5349.


  • December 1, 2025
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4942-4944)


  • December 1, 2025
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4942-4944)


  • December 1, 2025
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • December 2, 2025
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Taxation

Civil actions and liabilityEvidence and witnessesInternal Revenue Service (IRS)JudgesJudicial procedure and administrationSpecialized courts

Tax Court Improvement Act

USA119th CongressHR-5349| House 
| Updated: 12/2/2025
The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to improve taxpayer services by expanding the authority of the Tax Court and its special trial judges. Section 2 allows judges to administer oaths, issue subpoenas for attendance and documents, and conduct depositions before hearings, thereby facilitating settlement and discovery. Section 3 authorizes special trial judges to hear additional cases, including contempt proceedings, and grants them incidental powers limited to penalties no greater than a Class C misdemeanor. The amendments also require the Tax Court to adopt rules for consent procedures, ensuring parties can agree to the assignment of cases to special trial judges. These changes aim to streamline proceedings and increase judicial oversight for taxpayers. Section 4 incorporates federal disqualification standards for judges and special trial judges, applying Section 455 of the U.S. Code to all Tax Court proceedings. Section 5 clarifies that the Tax Court may toll the filing period for deficiency petitions when equity warrants it, and it specifies tolling rules for inaccessible filing locations, adding a 14‑day grace period. The act also sets effective dates tied to the adoption of implementing rules and limits the application of the new tolling provisions to filings made after enactment. By expanding subpoena authority, clarifying contempt powers, and ensuring equitable tolling, the bill seeks to provide taxpayers with more efficient and fair judicial review. The overall impact is a more responsive Tax Court system that better balances enforcement with taxpayer rights.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
4 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Sep 15, 2025
Introduced in House
Sep 15, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Sep 17, 2025
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 40 - 0.
Sep 17, 2025
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Oct 3, 2025
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 287.
Oct 3, 2025
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-335.
Dec 1, 2025
Mr. Smith (MO) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Dec 1, 2025
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4942-4944)
Dec 1, 2025
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5349.
Dec 1, 2025
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4942-4944)
Dec 1, 2025
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4942-4944)
Dec 1, 2025
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Dec 2, 2025
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
  • September 15, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • September 15, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.


  • September 17, 2025
    Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 40 - 0.


  • September 17, 2025
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held


  • October 3, 2025
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 287.


  • October 3, 2025
    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-335.


  • December 1, 2025
    Mr. Smith (MO) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.


  • December 1, 2025
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4942-4944)


  • December 1, 2025
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5349.


  • December 1, 2025
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4942-4944)


  • December 1, 2025
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4942-4944)


  • December 1, 2025
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • December 2, 2025
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Nathaniel Moran

Nathaniel Moran

Republican Representative

Texas

Cosponsors (1)
Terri A. Sewell (Democratic)

Ways and Means Committee, Finance Committee

Taxation

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Civil actions and liabilityEvidence and witnessesInternal Revenue Service (IRS)JudgesJudicial procedure and administrationSpecialized courts