# 119-hr-1983: Tax Return Preparer Accountability Act of 2025

119-hr-1983, Tax Return Preparer Accountability Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9] (D-TN); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1983
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-1983
- Congress: 119
- Title: Tax Return Preparer Accountability Act of 2025
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-03-10
- Sponsor: Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9] (D-TN)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Taxation
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## Summary

**Regulate tax return preparers nationwide** by bringing them into the same oversight framework as other Department of the Treasury representatives and setting minimum competency, identity, and conduct standards. - Preparers would face prescribed competency standards, examinations, continuing education, and background checks, and the Secretary could rescind preparer identifying numbers for incompetence or disrepute. - Taxpayers' returns and refund claims prepared by a tax return preparer would need to bear a preparer identifying number, with exceptions when returns are prepared under supervision by an attorney, certified public accountant, or enrolled agent firm. - Creates formal hearings, written determinations, and recordkeeping in the Office of the Director of Professional Responsibility, aligns definitions of "tax return preparer," "tax return," and "claim for refund" with the Internal Revenue Code, and allows exemptions for individuals subject to comparable state licensing or supervision.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2025-12-16T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Stronger data security for tax software: benefit, high. If enacted, the Treasury would set security rules for all tax software providers. Providers would have to follow these rules to protect taxpayer data. The government would review and update the standards every year. This could cut data breaches and identity theft for many filers.
- IRS help for hardship tax debts: benefit, medium. If enacted, the IRS would use an algorithm to spot taxpayers at high risk of economic hardship (as defined by the Secretary). When you call about a balance due, the IRS would ask questions to check for hardship. If you try to set up a quick online payment plan, it would alert you to help you may qu…
- Stronger rules for paid tax preparers: mixed, medium. If enacted, paid tax preparers would need an IRS ID number, pass exams and yearly training, and complete a background check. Returns they prepare would usually have to show that ID number. Preparers working under a signing attorney, CPA, or enrolled agent could be excepted. The IRS would exempt pre…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-hr-8870: BUILD America 250 Act
- 119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act
- 119-hr-7481: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026
- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-1983 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1983)

## Related
- [119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9877)
- [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151)
- [119-hr-8870: BUILD America 250 Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8870)
- [119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7977)
- [119-hr-7481: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7481)
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1983 (as of 2026-04-21).