BARCODE Efficiency Act

Sponsored byRep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10]IL· Introduced 7 January 2026

Open on Congress.gov

Cosponsors

Actions

Amendments

Committees

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Since introduced

Introduced

Committee

Passed Chamber

Passed Both

Enacted

Step 1 of 0

Latest action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

28 April 2026·2 months ago

Summary

Introduced in House · Updated 14 January 2026

Barcode Automation for Revenue Collection to Organize Disbursement and Enhance Efficiency Act or the BARCODE Efficiency Act

This bill requires the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to use barcodes, barcode scanning technology, and optical character recognition (or similar) technology to digitize certain federal tax return information and correspondence, unless the technology is slower or less reliable than other IRS processes (subject to conditions).

Specifically, the bill requires a scannable barcode on electronically-prepared federal tax returns that are printed and filed in paper format with the IRS. The bill also requires the IRS to use barcode scanning technology to convert data included on such returns into an electronic format.

Further, the bill requires the IRS to use optical character recognition (or similar) technology to transcribe federal tax returns and correspondence received by the IRS that are not prepared electronically and are received in paper format.

However, under the bill, the use of barcodes, barcode scanning technology, and optical character recognition (or similar) technology is not required if (1) such technology is slower or less reliable than manual transcription or any other IRS process, and (2) the IRS provides a report to Congress regarding the determination to not use such technology.

Timeline

15 actions

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
28 April 2026 · IntroReferral
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6956.
27 April 2026 · Floor
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3100-3101)
27 April 2026 · Floor
Mr. Smith (MO) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
27 April 2026 · Floor
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
27 April 2026 · Floor
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3100)
27 April 2026 · Floor
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3100)
27 April 2026 · Floor
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-508.
20 February 2026 · Committee
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-508.
20 February 2026 · Committee
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 434.
20 February 2026 · Calendars
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
14 January 2026 · Committee
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 42 - 0.
14 January 2026 · Committee
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
7 January 2026 · IntroReferral
Introduced in House
7 January 2026 · IntroReferral
Introduced in House
7 January 2026 · IntroReferral

Sponsorship

1 cosponsors

Sponsor

Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10]IL

Cosponsors

Republican1100%

Republican:Rep. Yakym, Rudy [R-IN-2]IN

Classification

Policy area

Taxation

Legislative subjects

Computers and information technologyDigital mediaGovernment information and archivesTax administration and collection, taxpayers

Committees

Ways and Means Committee
House · Standing
- Referred To7 Jan 2026
- Markup By14 Jan 2026
- Reported By20 Feb 2026
Finance Committee
Senate · Standing
- Referred To28 Apr 2026

Reports

H. Rept. 119-508

Track BARCODE Efficiency Act as it moves through Congress