Protecting Taxpayers from Ghost Preparers Act
Key claim: The Protecting Taxpayers from Ghost Preparers Act (HR9499) was ordered reported by the House Ways and Means Committee by a unanimous 40-0 vote, advancing legislation to regulate unlicensed tax preparers.
Abstract
(HR9499 · 119th Congress) Latest action (2026-07-01): Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 40 - 0.
Why this matters
Ghost preparer regulation targets a persistent gap in IRS enforcement: paid preparers who avoid signing returns and thus escape accountability for errors or fraud, disproportionately harming lower-income filers. Unanimous committee advancement (40-0) is notable in an otherwise polarized tax policy environment and suggests preparer oversight is one of the few tax-administration reforms with genuine bipartisan traction. Status remains pre-floor; enactment prospects depend on full House and Senate action.