Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) has introduced a new bill, the Protecting Taxpayers Act (S. 3278), that would allow the IRS to regulate tax preparers. The bill is cosponsored by Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Missouri).
The IRS attempted to regulate tax preparers in 2011, but the courts agreed the IRS did not have the statutory authority to implement these regulations.
The new bill will need to pass through the Senate Finance Committee, then get the full vote of the Senate and then go to the House of Representatives.
The Protecting Taxpayers Act (S. 3278) is aimed to revitalize the IRS organizational structure and management; increase taxpayer protections and modernize enforcement procedures; improve small business and retirement plan administration; better serve low-income taxpayers; overhaul the IRS appeals process; and strengthen the IRS IT infrastructure.