119th Congress · introduced in the House · Jan 7, 2026
BARCODE Efficiency Act
Official title from Congress.gov
Latest action (Apr 28, 2026): Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
View on Congress.govPolicy area: Taxation
Congressional Research Service summary, version: 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.
Includes amendment, cloture, and procedural votes. Each is labeled with its exact question; only a passage question is a vote to pass the bill.
No recorded roll calls on this bill in coverage.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3100)
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)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6956.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3100-3101)
Mr. Smith (MO) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 434.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-508.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-508.
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 42 - 0.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
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LD-2 reports whose issue descriptions explicitly cite this bill (bill type and number validated against Congress.gov records). A citation does not establish the client's position or any contact with a member.
Loading lobbying reportsCoverage: reports for 2025 onward, posted Jan 1, 2025 through Oct 23, 2026.
8 citations.
AMERICANS FOR TAX REFORM · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICANS FOR TAX REFORM
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 21, 2026 · issue area: Health Issues
$80,000
Spent on own lobbying
H.R.1834 - Breaking the Gridlock Act Barcode Automation for Revenue Collection to Organize Disbursement and Enhance (BARCODE) Efficiency Act - H.R.6956 Issues related to implementations of 199(a) qualified business income deduction CMS-2454-IFC; Docket No. CMS-2026-2047 - Comments on Medicare Drug Price Negoti…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICANS FOR TAX REFORM · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICANS FOR TAX REFORM
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 21, 2026 · issue area: Taxation/Internal Revenue Code
$80,000
Spent on own lobbying
…R. 2089/S. 1839) H.R.1834 - Breaking the Gridlock Act Barcode Automation for Revenue Collection to Organize Disbursement and Enhance (BARCODE) Efficiency Act - H.R.6956 Issues related to implementations of 199(a) qualified business income deduction
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICANS FOR TAX REFORM · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICANS FOR TAX REFORM
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 20, 2026 · issue area: Health Issues
$70,000
Spent on own lobbying
H.R.1834 - Breaking the Gridlock Act Barcode Automation for Revenue Collection to Organize Disbursement and Enhance (BARCODE) Efficiency Act - H.R.6956 Issues related to implementations of 199(a) qualified business income deduction
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICANS FOR TAX REFORM · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICANS FOR TAX REFORM
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 20, 2026 · issue area: Taxation/Internal Revenue Code
$70,000
Spent on own lobbying
…R. 2089/S. 1839) H.R.1834 - Breaking the Gridlock Act Barcode Automation for Revenue Collection to Organize Disbursement and Enhance (BARCODE) Efficiency Act - H.R.6956 Issues related to implementations of 199(a) qualified business income deduction
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE U.S.A. · lobbying firm or registrant: CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE U.S.A.
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · amended · posted Jul 14, 2026 · issue area: Taxation/Internal Revenue Code
$19,750,000
Spent on own lobbying
…ip through Long-Term Holding H.R. 2940, Advancing Water Reuse Act H.R. 6055/S. 1642, Strengthening Essential Manufacturing and Industrial (SEMI) Investment Act H.R. 6956/S. 452, BARCODE Efficiency Act H.R. 7450/S. 3605, Disaster Zone Energy Affordability and Investment Act H.R. 8101/S. 4221, Ensuring Better Interest Treatment a…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
NATIONAL TAXPAYERS UNION · lobbying firm or registrant: NATIONAL TAXPAYERS UNION
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 21, 2026 · issue area: Retirement
$30,000
Spent on own lobbying
…ming Age Clarity Act - Social Security HR 2988Protecting Prudent Investment of Retirement Savings Act Rulemaking - Inclusion of Alts in 401(k) plan investments HR 6956BARCODE Efficiency Act
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICANS FOR TAX REFORM · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICANS FOR TAX REFORM
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 21, 2026 · issue area: Health Issues
$70,000
Spent on own lobbying
H.R.1834 - Breaking the Gridlock Act Barcode Automation for Revenue Collection to Organize Disbursement and Enhance (BARCODE) Efficiency Act - H.R.6956 Issues related to implementations of 199(a) qualified business income deduction
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICANS FOR TAX REFORM · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICANS FOR TAX REFORM
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 21, 2026 · issue area: Taxation/Internal Revenue Code
$70,000
Spent on own lobbying
…R. 2089/S. 1839) H.R.1834 - Breaking the Gridlock Act Barcode Automation for Revenue Collection to Organize Disbursement and Enhance (BARCODE) Efficiency Act - H.R.6956
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing