BARCODE Efficiency Act
Introduced Jan 7, 2026 by Rep. Bradley Scott Schneider
The House passed it. The Senate has to pass it before it can reach the President.
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.
No recorded roll-call vote on this bill — it may have passed by voice vote or unanimous consent, which don't record individual votes.
- Apr 28, 2026Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Apr 27, 2026Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Apr 27, 2026On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3100)
- Apr 27, 2026Passed/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, 2026DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6956.
- Apr 27, 2026Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3100-3101)
- Apr 27, 2026Mr. Smith (MO) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Feb 20, 2026Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 434.
- Feb 20, 2026Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-508.
- Jan 14, 2026Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 42 - 0.
- Jan 14, 2026Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Jan 7, 2026Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- Jan 7, 2026Introduced in House