Bill · H.R. 8299· House(119-HR-8299)
Autofill Act of 2026
- Introduced
- 4/15/2026
- Last activity
- 4/15/2026 — Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- Sponsored by
- Bill Foster
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Autofill Act of 2026" aims to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. It establishes a program where the Secretary can provide taxpayers with partially pre-populated tax forms. These forms would include information regarding wages, self-employment income, and other data reported to the Secretary. The program includes specific timelines for establishing standards and providing forms like the 1040, 1040A, and 1040EZ. Taxpayers can download these files as printable documents or in formats for automated software. The Act also coordinates reporting deadlines with the Commissioner of Social Security.
Yes· 3 of 5
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+3
Automated forms may reduce the time and complexity of filing for low-income individuals.
Would middle-income households be better off under this?+3
The bill provides a more efficient way for middle-income families to handle their annual tax obligations.
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+3
The program streamlines the accessibility of taxpayer data through a secure online function.
The opposite
Does this protect people from being watched or searched?-2
The creation of a centralized system for downloading pre-populated personal financial data increases digital privacy risks.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Streamlined Tax Filing: The Secretary will establish a program where taxpayers can download forms that are already populated with their return information (Section 2(a)). This could make the process of filling out tax returns more efficient.
-
Flexible File Formats: Information will be made available in a printable document file for manual completion and in a computer-readable form for use with automated tax preparation software (Section 2(b)(2)). This provides options for different filing methods.
-
Timely Information Availability: The Secretary is required to make return information available within 15 days of receiving it (Section 2(b)(1)). This ensures that taxpayers have access to their data relatively quickly after it is reported.
-
Access to Specific Tax Forms: The Secretary must provide a secure function on their website to allow taxpayers to download populated 1040, 1040A, and 1040EZ forms (Section 2(c)(2)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Continued Responsibility for Accuracy: Even with the pre-populated information, the taxpayer is not absolved from full responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of their tax return (Section 2(d)).
-
Requirement for Verification: Before downloading a form, taxpayers must acknowledge that they are responsible for the accuracy of the return and that all information provided in the downloadable form needs to be verified (Section 2(e)). This means the automated information cannot be taken at face value without checking it first.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Low Income Households+3Good For Middle Class Households+3Good For Students+2
- Education And Technology
- Improves Internet Access+2
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+3Improves Privacy Rights-2
- 4/15/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Rashida TlaibDemocrat · Michigan