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H.R. 3641: Free File Permanence Act of 2017

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H.R. 3641: Free File Permanence Act of 2017

115th Congress · introduced 2017-08-04 · Taxation · Latest: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2017-08-04 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Roskam, Peter J. [R-IL-6] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  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

Free File Permanence Act of 2017

Plain summary

Free File Permanence Act of 2017 This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to continue to operate the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Free File Program. The program must work with state government agencies to enhance and expand the use of the program, while continuing to: provide free commercial-type online individual income tax preparation and electronic filing services to the lowest 70% of taxpayers by income; provide all taxpayers (regardless of income) with a basic, online electronic fillable forms utility; and work with the private sector to provide the free tax preparation and electronic filing services. Treasury must work with the private sector through the program to identify and implement innovative new program features to improve and simplify the taxpayer's experience with completing and filing individual income tax returns. The IRS and members of the tax software and electronic industry involved in the program must support and promote improvements within the program by mutually testing, piloting, and offering innovative solutions to: simplify the tax system, reduce compliance and reporting burdens, increase tax return accuracy through financial data authentication, strengthen the tax system against fraud through cybersecurity collaboration, avoid duplication, and maximize the use of electronic technology. The Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee must report annually to Congress regarding the program, including website statistics, cybersecurity standards, demographic information, marketing and education efforts, simplifications and innovations, and state and local participation.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), 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

Free File Permanence Act of 2017

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Roskam, Peter J. [R-IL-6] · 132 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Darrell Issa (R-CA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Darin LaHood (R-IL), Eric A. "Rick" Crawford (R-AR), Brian Babin (R-TX), J. French Hill (R-AR), Scott H. Peters (D-CA), Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA), Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), Suzan K. DelBene (D-WA), Andy Barr (R-KY), Tom Cole (R-OK), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Frank D. Lucas (R-OK), David G. Valadao (R-CA), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Tim Walberg (R-MI), Steve Womack (R-AR), Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Sam Graves (R-MO), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Pete Sessions (R-TX), Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and 72 more.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong115-hr3641 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115