BARCODE Efficiency Act
Bill journey · stage 2 of 5
Under committee review
What it doesSummary introduced in house (Jan 7, 2026)
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.
What just happenedApr 28, 2026
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Who’s behind it
- Referred in SenateApr 28, 2026
- Engrossed in HouseApr 27, 2026
- Reported in HouseFeb 20, 2026
- Introduced in HouseJan 7, 2026
- Apr 28, 2026IntroReferral
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Apr 27, 2026FloorH38310
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Apr 27, 2026FloorH37300
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3100)
- Apr 27, 2026Floor8000
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3100)
- Apr 27, 2026FloorH8D000
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6956.
- Apr 27, 2026FloorH30000
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3100-3101)
- Apr 27, 2026FloorH30300
Mr. Smith (MO) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Feb 20, 2026CalendarsH12410
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 434.
- Feb 20, 2026CommitteeH12200
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-508.
- Feb 20, 2026Committee5000
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-508.
- Jan 14, 2026Committee
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 42 - 0.
- Jan 14, 2026Committee
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Jan 7, 2026IntroReferralH11100
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- Jan 7, 2026IntroReferralIntro-H
Introduced in House
- Jan 7, 2026IntroReferral1000
Introduced in House