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Minutes for SB47 - Committee on Taxation
Short Title
Enacting the Kansas taxpayer protection act, requiring the signature and tax identification number of paid tax return preparers on income tax returns and authorizing actions to enjoin paid tax return preparers from engaging in certain conduct.
Minutes Content for Mon, Feb 8, 2021
Chairperson Adam Smith opened the hearing on SB47.
Adam Siebers, Assistant Revisor provided an overview on SB47 stating the bill would enact the Kansas Taxpayer Protection Act relating to actions paid tax return preparers who assist taxpayers filing income tax returns or refund claims in Kansas. (Attachment 1)
Kathleen Smith, Kansas Department of Revenue provided the fiscal report for SB47 indicating it would increase the State General Fund revenues; however, the Department does not have data on the amount of potential violations of the Kansas Taxpayer Protection Act to provide an accurate estimate of the fiscal effect of the bill.
Jeremy Stohs, Director, Government Relations, H&R Block testified via Webex as a proponent for SB47 noting the bill would provide the Kansas Department of Revenue with additional and important consumer protection tools to identify and stop unethical tax preparers from harming taxpayers and defrauding the State. He stated last week the bill passed the Senate on a vote of 39-0 and last year, it passed the House on a vote of 118-1 before dying in conference after several non-related amendments were added. (Attachment 2)
Mr. Stohs responded to the following questions:
- Normally in the tax season, H&R tax preparers in Kansas see returns that need to be fixed. In many cases it is fraud where people are falsely inflating tax returns either with or without the taxpayer's knowledge and ultimately leads to stolen money from the State of Kansas.
- The thirteen states that have enacted this legislation are working to catch up with online fraud that is a big issue and one the tax preparation industry, the Internal Revenue Service, and State Revenue Departments have worked together to place a number of important controls.
- The bill would require a tax preparer that performs a service to place their Federal Tax Preparer Identification number on the Kansas State Tax Return as well as the Federal return.
Chairperson Smith closed the hearing on SB47.
