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HouseTax Bill Includes Cell Phone Measure and Delay of 3% Witholding Rule

April 16, 2008

On a party-line vote of 238-179, the House this week approved the Taxpayer Assistance and Simplification Act of 2008 (H.R. 5719), which includes two items that NACUBO has been supporting and monitoring:
 

• the removal of employer-provided cell phones (or similar telecommunications equipment) from listed property in the Internal Revenue Code, and
• a one year delay for the imposition of a three percent withholding requirement on government payments for goods and services made after December 31, 2010.

The bill would also repeal the Internal Revenue Service’s authority to use private debt collection services -- a provision opposed by the administration and one that could prevent passage of the legislation in the Senate. 

Senator John Kerry (D-MA) has introduced S. 2668, a companion to the House cell phone provision.  The bill has yet to be considered by the Senate Finance Committee.

See the House Ways and Means news release for more information about H.R. 5719.

NACUBO contact, Mary M. Bachinger, director, tax policy