HR 6956 United States House · 119th Congress

BARCODE Efficiency Act

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.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
President
Introduced Jan 7, 2026 Last action Apr 28, 2026
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What changed between versions

Introduced in House Engrossed in House · 4 edits · Apr 27, 2026
MODERATE
The Engrossed version of HR 6956 makes two substantive policy changes: it replaces the specific mandate for barcode technology with a broader requirement that paper returns be formatted compatibly with whatever scanning technology the IRS uses, and it extends the implementation deadline for scanning other returns and correspondence from 12 months to 18 months after enactment. These changes give the IRS more flexibility in choosing its digitization approach and more time to comply.
REQUIREMENT

Section 2(a)(1) no longer requires that paper-filed electronic returns bear a specific code (barcode). Instead, it now only requires that such returns be formatted in a manner compatible with the scanning technology the IRS uses. This removes the mandate for a particular type of code on the return itself.

Section 2(a)(2) changes the required technology from 'barcode scanning technology' to the broader term 'scanning technology,' allowing the IRS to use any scanning method rather than being limited to barcodes specifically.

TIMELINE

Section 2(d)(3) extends the effective date for scanning of other returns and correspondence from the first calendar year beginning more than 12 months after enactment to more than 18 months after enactment, giving the IRS an additional six months to implement compliance for this category.

TECHNICAL

Section 2(c)(2) removes the phrase 'by the Secretary' from the description of the determination referenced in the congressional reporting requirement. This is a minor drafting clarification with no substantive policy effect.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
13
Key actions
3
Committee
4
Amendments
2
Apr 28, 2026
Committee
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
upper
Apr 27, 2026
Introduced
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3100)
lower
Apr 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
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)
lower
Apr 27, 2026
Introduced
Mr. Smith (MO) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
lower
Feb 20, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-508.
lower
Jan 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
lower
Jan 7, 2026
Committee
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
lower
Jan 7, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors