Bill would require scannable codes on mailed tax returns to speed IRS processing
Passed one chamberH.R. 6956Latest action
Sponsor: Bradley Scott Schneider · Representative · IL
AIDecoded by AI · checked against the recordRead the official text
Official title: BARCODE Efficiency Act
119th Congress
Topics: Jobs & the economy
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govIn plain words
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The BARCODE Efficiency Act would require scannable codes or OCR on paper tax returns to cut IRS processing errors and delays.
40-second read · 4 questions answered below
What does this do?
The bill requires printed tax returns prepared with tax software to include a scannable code containing all return data, which the IRS must scan instead of manually entering. For other paper returns or unreadable codes, the IRS must use optical character recognition (OCR) technology, also applied to other paper correspondence like letters and forms.
Who does it affect?
This affects the IRS's internal processing operations and taxpayers who file paper returns by mail instead of e-filing.
Why does it matter?
The changes aim to reduce manual data entry errors and processing delays, though the IRS can skip the tech requirements if it finds the technology slower or less reliable, reporting that decision to Congress within 30 days.
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Where does it stand?
- IntroducedJan 7, 2026
- House committee
- House vote
- SenateYou are here · Apr 28, 2026
- The president's desk
Right now: it passed the House, and the official record shows nothing new since. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the president.
Latest action: — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.