CONGRESS FOR VOTERS

J. Hill (R-AR)

Stop Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act of 2025

H.R. 1868 · House bill Taxation

A Republican bill with 8 Democratic cosponsors · See all 14 cosponsors

Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

In committee

Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.

The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.

Its path through Congress

  1. Introduced
  2. In Committee

What this bill would do

The bill is called the Stop Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act of 2025. It helps United States nationals who are wrongfully detained or held hostage abroad by postponing their tax deadlines. The legislation also ensures that these individuals do not have to pay interest or penalties on taxes while they are being held. Furthermore, the bill creates a program to refund late fees and interest that were already paid during the detention period. Spouses of these individuals are also granted these protections and relief benefits. The government departments involved must share lists of affected individuals and update their systems to make sure the relief is properly applied.

Yes

  • Scored +5

    Does this cut taxes for middle-income families?

    The bill provides tax relief by disregarding periods of unlawful detention when calculating interest and penalties for affected individuals.

  • Scored +4

    Would middle-income households be better off under this?

    The bill assists affected individuals and their spouses by providing refunds for tax-related penalties and interest.

  • Scored +3

    Is this likely to lift people out of poverty?

    The bill provides financial relief to individuals and their spouses through the abatement or refund of tax penalties and interest.

The opposite

  • Scored -2

    Does this reduce what the federal government spends?

    The bill directs the Secretary of the Treasury to issue refunds and abate assessments for certain individuals.