The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 7971, the Taxpayer Experience Improvement Act, on April 28. The bill was introduced by Congressman David Schweikert of Arizona’s 1st District and aims to modernize Internal Revenue Service (IRS) customer service by providing taxpayers with more information about their calls, returns, and refunds.
The legislation is intended to improve how taxpayers interact with the IRS and reduce the time spent waiting for information. Supporters say it will give individuals better access to real-time updates on IRS phone lines and expand online account features.
Under the proposed law, the IRS would be required to post real-time data on its public website showing call volume, wait times, and callback availability for major phone lines. It would also allow taxpayers to view their returns, documents, notices, letters sent or submitted through a website or mobile application. “Taxpayers should not have to spend an afternoon on hold just to find out whether the IRS received a document or when their refund is coming,” said Rep. David Schweikert. “The technology already exists. If the IRS has your return, your refund or your records, you should be able to see what is happening. This bill makes the IRS show the wait times, offer better callback options and stop making taxpayers guess.” The bill further requires monthly reporting from the IRS on call lengths and outcomes as well as expanding digital response options for notices.
Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith supported these changes in his remarks: “According to a government watchdog, roughly one-third of IRS information technology applications and over 20 percent of agency IT software are anywhere from 25 to over 60 years old… Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Schweikert’s Taxpayer Experience Improvement Act reflects his passion for deploying new technology to bring government into the modern era, and I appreciate his leadership on this issue.”
Schweikert introduced this bipartisan legislation with Representative Don Beyer of Virginia; it now moves forward in the Senate for consideration.
Schweikert has served in Congress representing Arizona’s 1st district since replacing Harry Mitchell in 2011 according to Ballotpedia. He previously served in Arizona’s House of Representatives from 1991 until 1995 according to Ballotpedia. In recent elections he defeated Amish Shah in 2024 with just under fifty-two percent of votes as reported by The New York Times, after narrowly winning against Jevin Hodge in 2022 according to election results published by The New York Times.
Schweikert was born in Los Angeles in 1962 but currently lives in Fountain Hills according to official congressional biography. He graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1988 before earning another degree there in 2005.
