PSI Sci
New here? Follow the money and the votes · Not sure of your district? Find your U.S. House member · Find your state legislators

H.R. 1563: Federal Employee Tax Accountability Act of 2015

Before you vote › Federal bills

H.R. 1563: Federal Employee Tax Accountability Act of 2015

114th Congress · introduced 2015-03-24 · Government Operations and Politics · Latest: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 266 - 160 (Roll no. 157).

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2015-03-24 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Chaffetz, Jason [R-UT-3] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: 1 recorded vote in our records. Latest: House roll call 157 (2015): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, HR1563 (2015-04-15), Failed. See all
  4. Where it stands now: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 266 - 160 (Roll no. 157). (final step reached)
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Federal Employee Tax Accountability Act of 2015

Plain summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Federal Employee Tax Accountability Act of 2015 (Sec. 2) Makes any individual who has a seriously delinquent tax debt ineligible for federal employment or to continue serving as a federal employee. Defines "seriously delinquent tax debt" as a federal tax liability assessed by the Internal Revenue Service and collectible by levy or court proceeding, except a tax debt: (1) that is being paid in a timely manner under an approved installment payment agreement or an offer-in-compromise, (2) for which a collection due process hearing has been requested or pending, (3) for which a continuous levy has been issued or agreed to by an applicant for employment, or (4) with respect to which such a levy is released because it has been determined to be an economic hardship to the taxpayer. Requires each federal agency to: (1) ensure that applicants for employment certify that they do not have a seriously delinquent tax debt, (2) review public records to determine if a notice of lien has been filed against an employee or applicant, and (3) restrict access to and use of information obtained under this Act. Authorizes an agency, if a tax lien against a federal employee or applicant for federal employment is discovered in a public record, to: (1) request such employee or applicant to execute and submit a form authorizing the Department of the Treasury to disclose to an agency head information describing whether the employee or applicant has a seriously delinquent tax debt, has willfully failed to file a required tax return, or has understated tax liability, and (2) request that Treasury disclose information authorized to be disclosed. Authorizes the head of an agency to take personnel actions against an agency employee who willfully failed to file a required tax return or willfully understated federal tax liability. Requires the Office of Personnel Management to: (1) promulgate regulations to carry out this Act that provide federal employees and applicants for employment with all due process rights and that allow, in a situation involving financial hardship, an employee with a seriously delinquent tax debt to continue employment; and (2) report to Congress annually on the number of exemptions granted for financial hardship. Grants federal employees or applicants for federal employment 180 days to demonstrate that their tax debts are exempt from classification as a seriously delinquent tax debt under this Act. (Sec. 3) Makes this Act effective nine months after its enactment date.

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House without amendment, Part I), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Federal Employee Tax Accountability Act of 2015

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House without amendment, Part I)

AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text

No AI explanation yet. It takes up to a minute to write and is then saved for everyone.

Limited to a few requests an hour per person.

The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Arguments against (opponents)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Alternatives

Needs sources: no published alternatives yet (for example a different bill, a law instead of an amendment, or keeping current law). We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Chaffetz, Jason [R-UT-3] · 1 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 1563, Federal Employee Tax Accountability Act of 2015 (2015-04-03)

Cosponsors on this site

John R. Carter (R-TX)

Recorded votes

Words on this page, explained (3)
Authorization
A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Exemption
A rule that removes certain people, property or activities from a tax or requirement.
Rulemaking
The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong114-hr1563 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong114 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong114