House Set to Consider Requiring Firing for Tax Delinquency

The House has scheduled a vote for as soon as today (April 15) on HR-1563, to generally make those with a “seriously delinquent” federal tax debt ineligible for continued federal employment and ineligible to be hired into a federal job. That would apply to those subject to a current tax levy, unless they are paying offthe debt under an agreement with the IRS. Certain other exceptions would be allowed under rules to be issued by OPM; those subject to removal also would be given time to get in compliance and would have the normal appeal rights applying in disciplinary actions if fired. Agencies further could take lesser disciplinary actions for willful failure to file a federal tax return or willful understatement of federal tax liability. Also scheduled for a vote are HR-1562, barring the award of contracts or grants to tax-delinquent companies or individuals under similar standards; HR-1152, to prohibit IRS employees from using personal email accounts to conduct official business; and HR-709, which would add to the list of mandatory firing offenses at the IRS performing, delaying or failing to perform (or threatening to do any of those) an official action for personal gain or for a political purpose.