Bill > S452

This bill, known as the BARCODE Efficiency Act, aims to modernize the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) document processing by requiring electronically prepared tax returns submitted on paper to include a scannable code that can convert the data to electronic format. The bill mandates that the IRS use barcode scanning technology for electronically prepared returns and optical character recognition (OCR) technology for paper returns that are either manually prepared or cannot be accurately converted using barcodes. For returns and correspondence received in paper form, the IRS must use OCR or similar technology to transcribe the documents. The bill includes an exception clause allowing the Secretary of the Treasury to waive these requirements if the new technologies are slower or less reliable than manual transcription. Different implementation dates are set for various types of tax returns: individual income tax returns will be covered 180 days after enactment, estate and gift tax returns 24 months after enactment, and all other returns and correspondence 12 months after enactment. The goal is to improve the efficiency and accuracy of tax document processing by leveraging modern scanning and digitization technologies.

Budget and Finance

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/452/all-info