Protecting Taxpayers from Ghost Preparers Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 9499 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9499 To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to apply tax return preparation penalties to improperly altered returns, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 29, 2026 Ms. Malliotakis introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to apply tax return preparation penalties to improperly altered returns, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting Taxpayers from Ghost Preparers Act''. SEC. 2. PENALTIES FOR TAX RETURN PREPARERS WHO IMPROPERLY ALTER RETURNS. (a) In General.--Paragraph (1) of section 6696(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows: ``(1) Return.--The term `return' means-- ``(A) any return of any tax imposed by this title, ``(B) any administrative adjustment request under section 6227, ``(C) any partnership adjustment tracking report under section 6226(b)(4)(A), and ``(D) any other document purporting to be a return, request, or report described in subparagraphs (A) through (C).''. (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act. SEC. 3. LIMITATION PERIOD NOT EXTENDED FOR VICTIMS OF PREPARER FRAUD. (a) In General.--Section 6501(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting ``by the taxpayer'' after ``intent''. (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply to assessments made or proceedings begun after the date of the enactment of this Act. SEC. 4. TECHNICAL AMEN