Crapo and Wyden Introduce Taxpayer Assistance and Service Act on Feb 26[1][3]

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Why it matters

On February 26, 2026, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) introduced the bipartisan Taxpayer Assistance and Service Act, a comprehensive bill with ten titles reforming IRS procedures, customer service, and taxpayer rights.[1][2][3] Key provisions include digitizing more tax returns for faster refunds, upgrading the "Where’s My Refund" tool and online accounts for electronic responses, strengthening standards for paid tax preparers, expanding IRS callback options, authorizing U.S. Tax Court refund cases, and enhancing independence for the National Taxpayer Advocate and IRS Independent Office of Appeals.[1][2][3]

Involved parties include Senators Crapo and Wyden as lead sponsors, National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins (who praised the bill for incorporating her recommendations and improving fairness/transparency), the IRS, U.S. Tax Court, Treasury, and Government Accountability Office.[1][2][3] The legislation builds on a January 2025 discussion draft by Crapo and Wyden, plus standalone bills from Congress and National Taxpayer Advocate proposals, amid bipartisan IRS reform history like the 1998 Restructuring Act and 2019 Taxpayer First Act.[1][3][4]

This follows 2025 House passage of several related standalone reforms (some enacted into law) and occurs post-reconciliation debates, with bipartisan FY2026 IRS funding boosts for taxpayer services.[4] Newsworthy now as rare bipartisan tax reform amid partisan funding fights (e.g., IRA rescissions), potentially advancing in 2026 with Senate Finance yet to report it, aiming to boost IRS trust, compliance, and service amid ongoing taxpayer burdens.[2][4]

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