Contracting and Tax Accountability Act of 2008

To prohibit the awarding of a contract or grant in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold unless the prospective contractor or grantee certifies in writing to the agency awarding the contract or grant that the contractor or grantee has no seriously delinquent tax debts, and for other purposes.

4/14/2008--Passed House amended. (This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on April 10, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
Contracting and Tax Accountability Act of 2008 - Establishes a policy that no U.S. government contracts or grants should be awarded to individuals or companies with seriously delinquent tax debts.
Requires a person who has such a debt to be proposed for debarment from any federal government contract unless such requirement is waived by a federal agency head. Requires an agency head that issues an invitation for bids or a request for proposals for a contract in an amount greater than the simplified acquisition threshold to require prospective contractors to:
(1) certify that they do not have such a debt; and
(2) authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to disclose information describing whether they have such a debt. Exempts contracts designated by agency heads as assisting the agency in the performance of disaster relief authorities or as necessary to national security.
Prohibits the head of an agency offering a grant exceeding such threshold from awarding it to a person who does not submit such certification and authorization. Requires the Federal Acquisition Regulation and regulations governing grants to be revised to require such certification and authorization. Defines "seriously delinquent tax debt" as an outstanding tax debt for which a notice of lien has been filed in public records. Excludes a tax debt:
(1) that is being paid in a timely manner pursuant to an installment agreement; or
(2) for which a collection due process hearing, or for which relief from liability for a tax deficiency applicable to joint filers, is requested or pending.


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Sponsor

• Rep. Brad Ellsworth [D, IN-8]
• and 1 Co-Sponsors
  • Rep. Edolphus Towns [D, NY-10]
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Committees

• Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
• 2 more
  • House Oversight and Government Reform
  • House Oversight and Government Reform
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Amendments

This bill has no amendments.

Amendments to H.R.4881

Number	Status	Purpose

Bill Status

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Introduced		Voted on by House		Voted on by Senate		Considered By President		Bill Becomes Law
December 19, 2007		April 14, 2008

Show All Actions (14 actions)Hide Actions

All Bill Actions

• Apr 15, 2008: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
• Passed by voice vote in the House on Apr 14, 2008. On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
• Apr 14, 2008: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4881.
• Apr 14, 2008: Considered under suspension of the rules.
• Apr 14, 2008: Mr. Braley (IA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
• Added to calendar on Apr 10, 2008: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 356..
• Apr 10, 2008: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Government. H. Rept. 110-578.
• Added to calendar on Mar 13, 2008: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote..
• Mar 13, 2008: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
• Mar 11, 2008: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote .
• Mar 11, 2008: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
• Jan 16, 2008: Referred to the Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization, and Procurement.
• Dec 19, 2007: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
• Introduced on Dec 19, 2007.

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Related Bills:

• S.2519

Related Issue Areas:

• Taxation
• Tax liens
• Subsidies
• Partnerships
• 13 more
• Law
• Income tax
• Government procurement
• Government contractors
• Fines (Penalties)
• Finance
• Federal aid programs
• Debt
• Corporations
• Collection of accounts
• Business
• Budgets
• Public contracts

Data from the Congressional Research Service

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Blog Coverage

May 21, 2008 Federal Tax Return

Federal Tax Return. Over the years I have gotten lots of different reactions from clients when I tell them the “bottom line” on their federal and state tax returns. Some clients breathe a sigh of relief – “At least I don’t have to

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Source: Federal Tax Return

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May 21, 2008 A Taxing Time on the Hill for Contractors

One bill, HR 4881, the Contracting and Tax Accountability Act of 2008, would prohibit federal agencies from awarding contracts or grants to persons or companies that have "seriously delinquent" federal tax debts. ...

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Source: The Project On Government Oversight (POGO) Blog

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April 24, 2008 Legislative Effort to Penalize Contractor Abuse Of Tax Obligations ...

Earlier this week, the House approved HR 4881, the Contracting and Tax Accountability Act of 2007, which would prohibit private sector companies with seriously delinquent federal tax debts from receiving new government contracts. ...

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Source: NTEU Chapter 98

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