H.R. 6956 Passed the House Taxation

BARCODE Efficiency Act

To require electronically prepared tax returns to include scannable code when submitted on paper, and to require the use of optical character recognition technology for paper documents received by the Internal Revenue Service.

  1. Introduced
  2. Committee
  3. Passed House
  4. Passed Senate
  5. To President
  6. Became law
Sponsor Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10] Introduced January 7, 2026 Cosponsors 1 (1 R) Latest action April 28, 2026

Summary

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.

Summary by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.

Congress.gov

Actions

  1. Apr 28, 2026 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
  2. Apr 27, 2026 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  3. Apr 27, 2026 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3100)
  4. Apr 27, 2026 DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6956.
  5. Apr 27, 2026 Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3100-3101)
  6. Apr 27, 2026 Mr. Smith (MO) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  7. Feb 20, 2026 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 434.
  8. Feb 20, 2026 Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-508.
  9. Jan 14, 2026 Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 42 - 0.
  10. Jan 14, 2026 Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
  11. Jan 7, 2026 Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
  12. Jan 7, 2026 Introduced in House

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