Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Greg Steube (FL-17)
December 11, 2025 | Press Releases
Watch Representative Steube’s Remarks Here
WASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) announced that the Taxpayer Notification and Privacy Act, introduced with Senator John Barrasso, has advanced out of the Ways and Means Committee. Rep. Steube’s bill, which would address inadequacies with federal laws requiring the IRS to provide notice to taxpayers of third-party contacts, was approved unanimously by the Committee in a vote of 41-0.
“This legislation is about building a healthier relationship between taxpayers and their government, one that respects privacy and due process while still ensuring the IRS can do its job,” said Rep. Steube in his remarks. “For law-abiding Americans, compliance is already complicated enough. The least we can do is ensure that when the IRS intends to go outside the taxpayer to gather information the taxpayer can provide, the taxpayer gets clarity—what exactly is being sought—and a fair chance to respond.”
“I want to thank Representative Steube for his leadership in advancing our bipartisan Taxpayer Notification and Privacy Act through the Ways and Means Committee,” said Senator Barrasso. “This bill will safeguard the rights of hardworking Americans and small businesses by preventing the IRS from going behind their backs to solicit personal financial information.”
“Fairness is the cornerstone principle of tax administration,” said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-Miss.). “When the IRS contacts third parties seeking information, taxpayers have the right to know what the government is looking for and deserve a fair chance to respond first. Thanks to Representative Steube’s leadership, the Taxpayer Notification and Privacy Act will rein in the IRS from contacting those close to a taxpayer and first allow citizens the first opportunity to resolve questions from the IRS without risking reputational harm.”
Joining Rep. Steube as a co-lead on the Taxpayer Notification and Privacy Act is Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.). The bill also has the support of the National Taxpayers Union.
Background: While current law requires the IRS provide taxpayers advance notice before contacting third parties (banks, employers, customers, etc.), the federal government has failed to provide sufficient notice to the respective individuals concerning the nature of the information being sought from said third parties. The Taxpayer Notification and Privacy Act would ensure the IRS identify each specific item of information it intends to seek in its third party contact notice to the taxpayer. It would also require the IRS provide said individual a reasonable amount of time to review and respond to the third party contact notice before the agency can proceed.
Read the full bill text here.