1976—Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, §1907(b)(1), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1836, struck out “Internal Revenue” in heading of subtitle G.
1 Section numbers editorially supplied.
There shall be a joint congressional committee known as the Joint Committee on Taxation (hereinafter in this subtitle referred to as the “Joint Committee”).
(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 925; Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, §1907(a)(1), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1835.)
1976—Pub. L. 94–455 struck out “Internal Revenue” after “Committee on”.
Section 1907(c) of Pub. L. 94–455 provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section and sections 8004, 8021, and 8023 of this title and enacting provisions set out below] shall take effect on the first day of the first month which begins more than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 4, 1976].”
Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, §1907(a)(5), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1836, provided that: “All references in any other statute, or in any rule, regulation, or order, to the Joint Committee on Internal Revenue Taxation shall be considered to be made to the Joint Committee on Taxation.”
The Joint Committee shall be composed of 10 members as follows:
Five members who are members of the Committee on Finance of the Senate, three from the majority and two from the minority party, to be chosen by such Committee; and
Five members who are members of the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, three from the majority and two from the minority party, to be chosen by such Committee.
No person shall continue to serve as a member of the Joint Committee after he has ceased to be a member of the Committee by which he was chosen, except that—
The members chosen by the Committee on Ways and Means who have been reelected to the House of Representatives may continue to serve as members of the Joint Committee notwithstanding the expiration of the Congress.
A vacancy in the Joint Committee—
Shall not affect the power of the remaining members to execute the functions of the Joint Committee; and
Shall be filled in the same manner as the original selection, except that—
In case of a vacancy during an adjournment or recess of Congress for a period of more than 2 weeks, the members of the Joint Committee who are members of the Committee entitled to fill such vacancy may designate a member of such Committee to serve until his successor is chosen by such Committee; and
In the case of a vacancy after the expiration of a Congress which would be filled by the Committee on Ways and Means, the members of such Committee who are continuing to serve as members of the Joint Committee may designate a person who, immediately prior to such expiration, was a member of such Committee and who is re-elected to the House of Representatives, to serve until his successor is chosen by such Committee.
The members shall serve without compensation in addition to that received for their services as members of Congress; but they shall be reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance of the duties vested in the Joint Committee, other than expenses in connection with meetings of the Joint Committee held in the District of Columbia during such times as the Congress is in session.
(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 925.)
The Joint Committee shall elect a chairman and vice chairman from among its members.
(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 926.)
Except as otherwise provided by law, the Joint Committee shall have power to appoint and fix the compensation of the Chief of Staff of the Joint Committee and such experts and clerical, stenographic, and other assistants as it deems advisable.
(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 926; Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, §1907(a)(2), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1835.)
1976—Pub. L. 94–455 substituted “compensation of the Chief of Staff of the Joint Committee” for “compensation of a clerk” after “appoint and fix the”.
Amendment by Pub. L. 94–455 effective on first day of first month which begins more than 90 days after Oct. 4, 1976, see section 1907(c) of Pub. L. 94–455, set out as a note under section 8001 of this title.
The expenses of the Joint Committee shall be paid one-half from the contingent fund of the Senate and one-half from the contingent fund of the House of Representatives, upon vouchers signed by the chairman or the vice chairman.
(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 926.)
For powers of the Joint Committee to obtain and inspect income returns, see section 6103(f).
The Joint Committee, or any subcommittee thereof, is authorized—
To hold hearings and to sit and act at such places and times;
To require by subpoena (to be issued under the signature of the chairman or vice chairman) or otherwise the attendance of such witnesses and the production of such books, papers, and documents;
To administer such oaths; and
To take such testimony;
as it deems advisable.
The Joint Committee, or any subcommittee thereof, is authorized to have such printing and binding done as it deems advisable.
The Joint Committee, or any subcommittee thereof, is authorized to make such expenditures as it deems advisable.
The Joint Committee shall review all requests (other than requests by the chairman or ranking member of a committee or subcommittee) for investigations of the Internal Revenue Service by the Government Accountability Office, and approve such requests when appropriate, with a view towards eliminating overlapping investigations, ensuring that the Government Accountability Office has the capacity to handle the investigation, and ensuring that investigations focus on areas of primary importance to tax administration.
The Chief of Staff, and the staff of the Joint Committee, shall provide such assistance as is required for joint reviews described in paragraph (2).
Before June 1 of each calendar year after 1998 and before 2005, there shall be a joint review of the strategic plans and budget for the Internal Revenue Service and such other matters as the Chairman of the Joint Committee deems appropriate. Such joint review shall be held at the call of the Chairman of the Joint Committee and shall include two members of the majority and one member of the minority from each of the Committees on Finance, Appropriations, and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, and the Committees on Ways and Means, Appropriations, and Government Reform and Oversight of the House of Representatives.
(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 927; Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, §1907(a)(3), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1835; Pub. L. 100–647, title I, §1018(s)(1), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3586; Pub. L. 105–206, title IV, §4001(a), July 22, 1998, 112 Stat. 783; Pub. L. 108–311, title III, §321(a), Oct. 4, 2004, 118 Stat. 1182; Pub. L. 109–135, title IV, §412(rr)(5), Dec. 21, 2005, 119 Stat. 2640.)
2005—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 109–135 substituted “Government Accountability Office” for “General Accounting Office” in two places.
2004—Subsec. (f)(2). Pub. L. 108–311 substituted “2005” for “2004”.
1998—Subsecs. (e), (f). Pub. L. 105–206 added subsecs. (e) and (f).
1988—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–647 substituted “6103(f)” for “6103(d)”.
1976—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 94–455 struck out par. (2) relating to limitation on cost of stenographic services in reporting hearings.
Committee on Governmental Affairs of Senate changed to Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of Senate, effective Jan. 4, 2005, by Senate Resolution No. 445, One Hundred Eighth Congress, Oct. 9, 2004.
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Government Reform of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Sixth Congress, Jan. 6, 1999.
Pub. L. 105–206, title IV, §4001(b), July 22, 1998, 112 Stat. 784, provided that:
“(1) Subsection (e) of section 8021 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as added by subsection (a) of this section [amending this section], shall apply to requests made after the date of the enactment of this Act [July 22, 1998].
“(2) Subsection (f) of such section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.”
Amendment by Pub. L. 100–647 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provision of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, Pub. L. 99–514, to which such amendment relates, see section 1019(a) of Pub. L. 100–647, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.
Amendment by Pub. L. 94–455 effective on first day of first month which begins more than 90 days after Oct. 4, 1976, see section 1907(c) of Pub. L. 94–455, set out as a note under section 8001 of this title.
Pub. L. 108–311, title III, §321(c), Oct. 4, 2004, 118 Stat. 1182, provided that: “The joint review required by section 8021(f)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to be made before June 1, 2004, shall be treated as timely if made before June 1, 2005.”
It shall be the duty of the Joint Committee—
To investigate the operation and effects of the Federal system of internal revenue taxes;
To investigate the administration of such taxes by the Internal Revenue Service or any executive department, establishment, or agency charged with their administration; and
To make such other investigations in respect of such system of taxes as the Joint Committee may deem necessary.
To investigate measures and methods for the simplification of such taxes, particularly the income tax; and
To publish, from time to time, for public examination and analysis, proposed measures and methods for the simplification of such taxes.
(A) To report, from time to time, to the Committee on Finance and the Committee on Ways and Means, and, in its discretion, to the Senate or House of Representatives, or both, the results of its investigations, together with such recommendations as it may deem advisable.
(B) Subject to amounts specifically appropriated to carry out this subparagraph, to report, at least once each Congress, to the Committee on Finance and the Committee on Ways and Means on the overall state of the Federal tax system, together with recommendations with respect to possible simplification proposals and other matters relating to the administration of the Federal tax system as it may deem advisable.
(C) To report, for each calendar year after 1998 and before 2005, to the Committees on Finance, Appropriations, and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, and to the Committees on Ways and Means, Appropriations, and Government Reform and Oversight of the House of Representatives, with respect to the matters addressed in the joint review referred to in section 8021(f)(2).
For duties of the Joint Committee relating to refunds of income and estate taxes, see section 6405.
(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 927; Pub. L. 105–206, title IV, §4002(a), July 22, 1998, 112 Stat. 784; Pub. L. 108–311, title III, §321(b), Oct. 4, 2004, 118 Stat. 1182.)
2004—Par. (3)(C). Pub. L. 108–311 substituted “2005” for “2004” and “with respect to the matters addressed in the joint review referred to in section 8021(f)(2).” for “with respect to—
“(i) strategic and business plans for the Internal Revenue Service;
“(ii) progress of the Internal Revenue Service in meeting its objectives;
“(iii) the budget for the Internal Revenue Service and whether it supports its objectives;
“(iv) progress of the Internal Revenue Service in improving taxpayer service and compliance;
“(v) progress of the Internal Revenue Service on technology modernization; and
“(vi) the annual filing season.”
1998—Par. (3). Pub. L. 105–206 reenacted heading without change and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “To report, from time to time, to the Committee on Finance and the Committee on Ways and Means, and, in its discretion, to the Senate or the House of Representatives, or both, the results of its investigations, together with such recommendation as it may deem advisable.”
Committee on Governmental Affairs of Senate changed to Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of Senate, effective Jan. 4, 2005, by Senate Resolution No. 445, One Hundred Eighth Congress, Oct. 9, 2004.
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Government Reform of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Sixth Congress, Jan. 6, 1999.
Pub. L. 105–206, title IV, §4002(b), July 22, 1998, 112 Stat. 784, provided that: “The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [July 22, 1998].”
Pub. L. 105–206, title IV, §4022(b), July 22, 1998, 112 Stat. 785, provided that:
“(1)
“(A) such legislation is reported by the Committee on Finance in the Senate, the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, or any committee of conference; and
“(B) such legislation includes a provision which would directly or indirectly amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and which has widespread applicability to individuals or small businesses.
“(2)
“(A) includes—
“(i) an estimate of the number of taxpayers affected by the provision; and
“(ii) if applicable, the income level of taxpayers affected by the provision; and
“(B) should include (if determinable)—
“(i) the extent to which tax forms supplied by the Internal Revenue Service would require revision and whether any new forms would be required;
“(ii) the extent to which taxpayers would be required to keep additional records;
“(iii) the estimated cost to taxpayers to comply with the provision;
“(iv) the extent to which enactment of the provision would require the Internal Revenue Service to develop or modify regulatory guidance;
“(v) the extent to which the provision may result in disagreements between taxpayers and the Internal Revenue Service; and
“(vi) any expected impact on the Internal Revenue Service from the provision (including the impact on internal training, revision of the Internal Revenue Manual, reprogramming of computers, and the extent to which the Internal Revenue Service would be required to divert or redirect resources in response to the provision).
“(3)
“(4)
Pub. L. 94–455, title V, §507, Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1569, mandated a full and complete study by the Joint Committee on Taxation with respect to simplifying the tax laws and the feasibility of a reduction of tax rates; a report of such study with recommendations was to be submitted to the committees of Congress before July 1, 1977.
Pub. L. 94–455, title XV, §1509, Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1741, directed Joint Committee on Taxation to carry out study with respect to broadening class of individuals eligible to claim deduction for retirement savings under section 219 or 220 of this title, and to report its findings to Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and to Committee on Finance of the Senate.
Pub. L. 94–455, title XXI, §2133, Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1925, mandated a study by the Joint Committee on Taxation, in consultation with the Treasury, of the cost effectiveness of different kinds of tax incentives, including an analysis of the most effective way to use tax cuts to provide economic stimulus; such report with its recommendations was to be submitted to the Committees of Congress no later than Sept. 30, 1977.
The Joint Committee or the Chief of Staff of the Joint Committee, upon approval of the Chairman or Vice Chairman, is authorized to secure directly from the Internal Revenue Service, or the office of the Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service, or directly from any executive department, board, bureau, agency, independent establishment, or instrumentality of the Government, information, suggestions, rulings, data, estimates, and statistics, for the purpose of making investigations, reports, and studies relating to internal revenue taxation. In the investigation by the Joint Committee on Taxation of the administration of the internal revenue taxes by the Internal Revenue Service, the Chief of Staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation is authorized to secure directly from the Internal Revenue Service such tax returns, or copies of tax returns, and other relevant information, as the Chief of Staff deems necessary for such investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service is authorized and directed to furnish such tax returns and information to the Chief of Staff together with a brief report, with respect to each return, as to any action taken or proposed to be taken by the Service as a result of any audit of the return.
The Internal Revenue Service, the office of the Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service, executive departments, boards, bureaus, agencies, independent establishments, and instrumentalities are authorized and directed to furnish such information, suggestions, rulings, data, estimates, and statistics directly to the Joint Committee or to the Chief of Staff of the Joint Committee, upon request made pursuant to this section.
Subsections (a) and (b) shall be applied in accordance with their provisions without regard to any reorganization plan becoming effective on, before, or after the date of the enactment of this subsection.
(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 928; Pub. L. 86–368, §2(b), Sept. 22, 1959, 73 Stat. 648; Pub. L. 94–455, title XII, §1210(c), title XIX, §1907(a)(4), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1711, 1835.)
The date of the enactment of this subsection, referred to in subsec. (c), is Aug. 16, 1954, the date of enactment of act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 4, which enacted this title.
1976—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 94–455, §1210(c), inserted provision that in investigation by Joint Committee on Taxation of the administration of the internal revenue taxes by the Internal Revenue Service, the Chief of Staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation is authorized to secure directly from the Internal Revenue Service such tax returns, or copies of tax returns, and other relevant information, as the Chief of Staff deems necessary for such investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service is authorized and directed to furnish such tax returns and information to the Chief of Staff together with a brief report, with respect to each return, as to any action taken or proposed to be taken by the Service as a result of any audit of the return.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 94–455, §1907(a)(4), substituted “any” for “Reorganization Plan Numbered 26 of 1950 or to any other” after “without regard to” and “the date of the enactment of this subsection” for “February 28, 1951” after “before, or after”.
1959—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 86–368, §2(b)(1), substituted “or the office of the Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service” for “(including the Assistant General Counsel of the Treasury Department serving as the Chief Counsel of the Internal Revenue Service)”.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 86–368, §2(b)(2), substituted “, the office of the Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service” for “(including the Assistant General Counsel of the Treasury Department serving as the Chief Counsel of the Internal Revenue Service)”.
Section 1210(d)(2) of Pub. L. 94–455 provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (c) [amending this section] shall take effect on January 1, 1977.”
Amendment by section 1907(a)(4) of Pub. L. 94–455 effective on first day of first month which begins more than 90 days after Oct. 4, 1976, see section 1907(c) of Pub. L. 94–455, set out as a note under section 8001 of this title.
Amendment by Pub. L. 86–368 effective when Chief Counsel for Internal Revenue Service first appointed pursuant to amendment of section 7801 of this title by Pub. L. 86–368 qualifies and takes office, see section 3(b) of Pub. L. 86–368, set out as a note under section 7801 of this title.