Representative David Schweikert's (R-AZ) bill to modernize the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has passed out of the House Ways and Means Committee.
What the Bill Does
Rep. Schweikert's Taxpayer Workforce Modernization Act would require the IRS to establish a fellowship program wherein qualified data scientists from the private sector would be brought in to help improve data acquisition, data quality, advanced analytics, statistical modeling, and core IRS functions related to taxpayer service and enforcement in 2- to 4-year terms, with the possibility of being permanently hired at the end of their service.
In addition to the data scientists, a task force within the IRS and the Office of Chief Counsel would be responsible for applying advanced analytics, statistical modeling, and machine learning to tax administration.
If signed into law, the bill would set a September 30th, 2026, deadline for the IRS to implement the program.
What Schweikert is Saying
"Taxpayers deserve an IRS that uses modern tools to solve modern problems," Rep. Schweikert said in a press release. "This bill brings data scientists into the agency to help identify complex tax issues, improve customer service and make tax administration smarter, faster and more accountable. We have the technology today. The federal government should be using it to better serve taxpayers."
Schweikert's Previous IRS Bill
In late April, the House passed the Arizona congressman's Taxpayer Experience Improvement Act, which would require the IRS to expand its online taxpayer accounts and mobile access, allowing Americans to view their tax returns, refund status, notices, and correspondence in one place.
Additionally, the bill mandates that the IRS display real-time call volume data on its public website, including wait times, queue sizes, and callback availability, information that is currently difficult or impossible to find, and the implementation of a callback system by 2028.
"Taxpayers should not spend hours on hold with the IRS just to figure out the status of their refund or why they got a letter," Schweikert wrote after the vote. "We all carry a supercomputer in our pocket. My bill directs the agency to finally use that technology."
