The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) sent a letter this week to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in opposition to legislation that blocks federal employees with delinquent taxes from working for the federal government.
According to NARFE, the bill is seeking to “address a problem that doesn’t exist.” The letter states that over 97% of federal employees are compliant with their taxes and therefore there is no need for the legislation.
The bill, known as the Tax Accountability Act (H.R. 396), has been introduced in past sessions of Congress and was just recently reintroduced by Congressman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT). It would render individuals with seriously delinquent tax debt ineligible for federal civilian employment, contracts, or grants.
NARFE also said in the letter that the bill would be counterproductive since, presumably, the bill would potentially leave the tax delinquent individuals unemployed and therefore unable to have the income to pay down their tax debts.
The House is scheduled to mark up the legislation today and NARFE sent the letter in advance of the meeting to express its opposition.
A copy of the letter is included below.
NARFE Letter Opposing Tax Accountability Act
