S 2055 — IRS Whistleblower Program Improvement Act of 2021

(a) Social security benefits and tier I railroad retirement benefits Benefits payable under the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program established under title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.), and benefits payable under sections 231b and 231c 1 of title 45, shall be exempt from reduction under any order issued under this subchapter. (b) Veterans programs The following programs shall be exempt from reduction under any order issued under this subchapter: All programs administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Special benefits for certain World War II veterans (28–0401–0–1–701). (c) Net interest No reduction of payments for net interest (all of major functional category 900) shall be made under any order issued under this subchapter. (d) Refundable income tax credits and certain elective payments (1) Refundable income tax credits Payments to individuals made pursuant to provisions of title 26 establishing refundable tax credits shall be exempt from reduction under any order issued under this subchapter. (2) Certain elective payments Payments made to taxpayers pursuant to elections under subsection (d) of section 48D of title 26, or amounts treated as payments which are made by taxpayers under paragraph (1) of such subsection, shall be exempt from reduction under any order issued under this subchapter. (e) Non-defense unobligated balances Unobligated balances of budget authority carried over from prior fiscal years, except balances in the defense category, shall be exempt from reduction under any order issued under this subchapter. (f) Optional exemption of military personnel (1) In general The President may, with respect to any military personnel account, exempt that account from sequestration or provide for a lower uniform percentage reduction than would otherwise apply. (2) Limitation The President may not use the authority provided by paragraph (1) unless the President notifies the Congress of the manner in which such authority will be exercised on or before the date specified in section 904(a) of this title for the budget year. (g) Other programs and activities (1) (A) The following budget accounts and activities shall be exempt from reduction under any order issued under this subchapter: Activities resulting from private donations, bequests, or voluntary contributions to the Government. Activities financed by voluntary payments to the Government for goods or services to be provided for such payments. Administration of Territories, Northern Mariana Islands Covenant grants (14–0412–0–1–808). Advances to the Unemployment Trust Fund and Other Funds (16–0327–0–1–600). Black Lung Disability Trust Fund Refinancing (16–0329–0–1–601). Bonneville Power Administration Fund and borrowing authority established pursuant to section 13 of Public Law 93–454 (1974), as amended [16 U.S.C. 838k] (89–4045–0–3–271). Claims, Judgments, and Relief Acts (20–1895–0–1–808). Compact of Free Association (14–0415–0–1–808). Compensation of the President (11–0209–01–1–802). Comptroller of the Currency, Assessment Funds (20–8413–0–8–373). Continuing Fund, Southeastern Power Administration (89–5653–0–2–271). Continuing Fund, Southwestern Power Administration (89–5649–0–2–271). Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) for America Fund. Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) for America Defense Fund. Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) for America International Technology Security and Innovation Fund. Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) for America Workforce and Education Fund 2 Dual Benefits Payments Account (60–0111–0–1–601). Emergency Fund, Western Area Power Administration (89–5069–0–2–271). Exchange Stabilization Fund (20–4444–0–3–155). Farm Credit Administration Operating Expenses Fund (78–4131–0–3–351). Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation, Farm Credit Insurance Fund (78–4171–0–3–351). Federal Deposit Insuran...

(a) General rule For purposes of this subtitle, the term “adjusted gross income” means, in the case of an individual, gross income minus the following deductions: (1) Trade and business deductions The deductions allowed by this chapter (other than by part VII of this subchapter) which are attributable to a trade or business carried on by the taxpayer, if such trade or business does not consist of the performance of services by the taxpayer as an employee. (2) Certain trade and business deductions of employees (A) Reimbursed expenses of employees The deductions allowed by part VI (section 161 and following) which consist of expenses paid or incurred by the taxpayer, in connection with the performance by him of services as an employee, under a reimbursement or other expense allowance arrangement with his employer. The fact that the reimbursement may be provided by a third party shall not be determinative of whether or not the preceding sentence applies. (B) Certain expenses of performing artists The deductions allowed by section 162 which consist of expenses paid or incurred by a qualified performing artist in connection with the performances by him of services in the performing arts as an employee. (C) Certain expenses of officials The deductions allowed by section 162 which consist of expenses paid or incurred with respect to services performed by an official as an employee of a State or a political subdivision thereof in a position compensated in whole or in part on a fee basis. (D) Certain expenses of early childhood, elementary, and secondary school teachers The deductions allowed by section 162 which consist of expenses, not in excess of $250, paid or incurred by an eligible educator— (i) by reason of the participation of the educator in professional development courses related to the curriculum in which the educator provides instruction or to the students for which the educator provides instruction, and (ii) in connection with books, supplies (other than nonathletic supplies for courses of instruction in health or physical education), computer equipment (including related software and services) and other equipment, and supplementary materials used by the eligible educator in the classroom. (E) Certain expenses of members of reserve components of the Armed Forces of the United States The deductions allowed by section 162 which consist of expenses, determined at a rate not in excess of the rates for travel expenses (including per diem in lieu of subsistence) authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, paid or incurred by the taxpayer in connection with the performance of services by such taxpayer as a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States for any period during which such individual is more than 100 miles away from home in connection with such services. (3) Losses from sale or exchange of property The deductions allowed by part VI (sec. 161 and following) as losses from the sale or exchange of property. (4) Deductions attributable to rents and royalties The deductions allowed by part VI (sec. 161 and following), by section 212 (relating to expenses for production of income), and by section 611 (relating to depletion) which are attributable to property held for the production of rents or royalties. (5) Certain deductions of life tenants and income beneficiaries of property In the case of a life tenant of property, or an income beneficiary of property held in trust, or an heir, legatee, or devisee of an estate, the deduction for depreciation allowed by section 167 and the deduction allowed by section 611. (6) Pension, profit-sharing, and annuity plans of self-employed individuals In the case of an individual who is an employee within the meaning of section 401(c)(1), the deduction allowed by section 404. (7) Retirement savings The deduction allowed by section 219 (relating to deduction of certain retirement savings). [(8) Repealed. Pu...

(a) In general The Secretary, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, is authorized to pay such sums as he deems necessary for— (1) detecting underpayments of tax, or (2) detecting and bringing to trial and punishment persons guilty of violating the internal revenue laws or conniving at the same, in cases where such expenses are not otherwise provided for by law. Any amount payable under the preceding sentence shall be paid from the proceeds of amounts collected by reason of the information provided, and any amount so collected shall be available for such payments. (b) Awards to whistleblowers (1) In general If the Secretary proceeds with any administrative or judicial action described in subsection (a) based on information brought to the Secretary’s attention by an individual, such individual shall, subject to paragraph (2), receive as an award at least 15 percent but not more than 30 percent of the proceeds collected as a result of the action (including any related actions) or from any settlement in response to such action (determined without regard to whether such proceeds are available to the Secretary). The determination of the amount of such award by the Whistleblower Office shall depend upon the extent to which the individual substantially contributed to such action. (2) Award in case of less substantial contribution (A) In general In the event the action described in paragraph (1) is one which the Whistleblower Office determines to be based principally on disclosures of specific allegations (other than information provided by the individual described in paragraph (1)) resulting from a judicial or administrative hearing, from a governmental report, hearing, audit, or investigation, or from the news media, the Whistleblower Office may award such sums as it considers appropriate, but in no case more than 10 percent of the proceeds collected as a result of the action (including any related actions) or from any settlement in response to such action (determined without regard to whether such proceeds are available to the Secretary), taking into account the significance of the individual’s information and the role of such individual and any legal representative of such individual in contributing to such action. (B) Nonapplication of paragraph where individual is original source of information Subparagraph (A) shall not apply if the information resulting in the initiation of the action described in paragraph (1) was originally provided by the individual described in paragraph (1). (3) Reduction in or denial of award If the Whistleblower Office determines that the claim for an award under paragraph (1) or (2) is brought by an individual who planned and initiated the actions that led to the underpayment of tax or actions described in subsection (a)(2), then the Whistleblower Office may appropriately reduce such award. If such individual is convicted of criminal conduct arising from the role described in the preceding sentence, the Whistleblower Office shall deny any award. (4) Appeal of award determination Any determination regarding an award under paragraph (1), (2), or (3) may, within 30 days of such determination, be appealed to the Tax Court (and the Tax Court shall have jurisdiction with respect to such matter). (5) Application of this subsection This subsection shall apply with respect to any action— (A) against any taxpayer, but in the case of any individual, only if such individual’s gross income exceeds $200,000 for any taxable year subject to such action, and (B) if the proceeds in dispute exceed $2,000,000. (6) Additional rules (A) No contract necessary No contract with the Internal Revenue Service is necessary for any individual to receive an award under this subsection. (B) Representation Any individual described in paragraph (1) or (2) may be represented by counsel. (C) Submission of information No award may be made under this subsection based on information submitted to the Secretary unless such informat...