Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Presidential Tax Transparency Act of 2019”.
Presidential Tax Transparency Act of 2019
A BILL
To improve Presidential and Vice Presidential tax transparency, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Presidential and Vice Presidential tax transparency
Definitions— In this section—
The term covered candidate means a candidate of a major party in a general election for the office of President or Vice President.
The term major party has the meaning given the term in section 9002 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
The term income tax return means, with respect to an individual, any return (as such term is defined in section 6103(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) of such individual other than—
information returns issued to persons other than such individual, and
declarations of estimated tax.
The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Treasury or the delegate of the Secretary.
Disclosure—
In general—
Candidates for President and Vice President— Not later than the date that is 15 days after the date on which an individual becomes a covered candidate, the individual shall submit to the Federal Election Commission a copy of the individual’s income tax returns for the 10 most recent taxable years for which a return has been filed with the Internal Revenue Service.
President and Vice President— With respect to each taxable year for an individual who is the President or Vice President, not later than the due date for the return of tax for the taxable year, such individual shall submit to the Federal Election Commission a copy of the individual’s income tax returns for the taxable year and for the 9 preceding taxable years.
Transition rule for sitting Presidents and Vice Presidents— Not later than the date that is 30 days after the date of enactment of this section, an individual who is the President or Vice President on such date of enactment shall submit to the Federal Election Commission a copy of the income tax returns for the 10 most recent taxable years for which a return has been filed with the Internal Revenue Service.
Failure to disclose— If any requirement under paragraph (1) to submit an income tax return is not met, the chairman of the Federal Election Commission shall submit to the Secretary a written request that the Secretary provide the Federal Election Commission with the income tax return.
Publicly available— The chairman of the Federal Election Commission shall make publicly available each income tax return submitted under paragraph (1) in the same manner as a return provided under section 6103(l)(23) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as added by this section).
Treatment as a report under the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971— For purposes of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, any income tax return submitted under paragraph (1) or provided under section 6103(l)(23) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as added by this section) shall, after redaction under paragraph (3) or subparagraph (B)(ii) of such section, be treated as a report filed under the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971.
Disclosure of returns of Presidents and Vice Presidents and certain candidates for President and Vice President—
In general— Section 6103(l) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(23) Disclosure of return information of Presidents and Vice Presidents and certain candidates for President and Vice President
“(A) In general—Upon written request by the chairman of the Federal Election Commission under section 1(b)(2) of the Presidential Tax Transparency Act of 2019, the Secretary shall provide copies of any return which is so requested to officers and employees of the Federal Election Commission whose official duties include disclosure or redaction of such return under this paragraph.
“(B) Disclosure to the public
“(i) In general—The chairman of the Federal Election Commission shall make publicly available any return which is provided under subparagraph (A).
“(ii) Redaction of certain information—Before making publicly available under clause (i) any return, the chairman of the Federal Election Commission shall redact such information as the Federal Election Commission and the Secretary jointly determine is necessary for protecting against identity theft, such as social security numbers.”
Conforming amendments— Section 6103(p)(4) of such Code is amended—
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) by striking “or (22)” and inserting “(22), or (23)”, and
in subparagraph (F)(ii) by striking “or (22)” and inserting “(22), or (23)”.
Effective date— The amendments made by this subsection shall apply to disclosures made on or after the date of enactment of this Act.