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H.R. 840House115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Public Service Transparency Act

Sponsored by Raul RuizRep. Raul Ruiz (D-CA)
Introduced February 2, 2017

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 12:20 PM UTC

The Public Service Transparency Act would change the Ethics in Government Act so that the President, Vice President, and anyone serving in a Cabinet‑level position (or nominated for one) must publicly release their federal income tax returns. It requires candidates for President or Vice President, and Cabinet nominees, to provide returns for the current year and the two prior years, and it requires sitting officials to provide the current year’s return. The bill also lets the Office of Government Ethics disclose those returns as required.

Key Provisions

  • Adds a new subsection to the Ethics in Government Act requiring presidential and vice‑presidential candidates to attach their federal tax returns for the current year and the two previous years to their ethics reports.
  • Requires Cabinet‑level nominees to attach the same three years of tax returns to their ethics reports, and requires sitting Cabinet officers, the President, and the Vice President to attach the current year’s return.
  • If a required tax return is filed late with the IRS, the individual must submit the return to the ethics office within 30 days of filing.
  • Defines “Cabinet‑level position” as the head of any executive department or any other position the President designates as part of the Cabinet.
  • Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the Director of the Office of Government Ethics to disclose the tax returns covered by the new reporting requirements.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Ways and Means Committee

February 2, 2017

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

February 2, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Ways and Means Committee

February 2, 2017

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about H.R. 840 on the floor

1 Democrat
Madeleine Z. Bordallo
Rep. Madeleine Z. BordalloD-GU · Sep 13, 2018

Mr. Speaker, the Violence Against Women Act, signed by President Clinton 24 years ago today, is a landmark federal law that provides critical support to women and children who face domestic violence…

Record

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued February 2, 2017

I

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 840

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 2, 2017

Mr. Ruiz introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To amend the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to require the President, Vice President, and Cabinet-level officers to release their tax returns, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Public Service Transparency Act.

2.

Disclosure of tax returns by candidates for President and Vice President or nominee for Cabinet-level positions

(a)

In general

Section 102 of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (Public Law 95–521; 5 U.S.C. App. 102) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(j)
(1)

Any report filed pursuant to section 101(c) by an individual who is a candidate for the office of President or Vice President shall include the individuals return of Federal income tax for the taxable year ending in or with the applicable calendar year covered by such report and such returns for the previous two taxable years.

(2)

Any report filed pursuant to section 101(b) by an individual who is a nominee for a Cabinet-level position shall include the individuals return of Federal income tax for the taxable year ending in or with the applicable calendar year covered by such report and such returns for the previous two taxable years.

(3)

Any report filed pursuant to section 101(d) and (e) by the President, Vice President, or any individual occupying a Cabinet-level position shall include the President's, Vice President's, or individual's (as the case may be) return of Federal income tax for the taxable year ending in or with the applicable calendar year covered by such report.

(4)

If any person covered by paragraph (1), (2), or (3) files the return for such taxable year with the Internal Revenue Service after the due date for such report, such return shall be submitted (in the same manner as such a report) not later than 30 days after such return was so filed.

(5)

In this subsection, the term Cabinet-level position means—

(A)

the head of any Executive department (as that term is defined in section 101 of title 5, United States Code); and

(B)

any other position designated by the President as a position within the Cabinet.

.

(b)

Application

The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to any individual who becomes a candidate for the office, or assumes the office, of President or Vice President, or becomes a nominee for, or assumes, a Cabinet-level position (as that term is defined in section 102(j)(5) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (Public Law 95–521; 5 U.S.C. App. 102(j)(5)), as added by subsection (a)), after the date of enactment of this Act.

3.

Disclosure permitted

(a)

In general

Section 6103(i) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(9)

Disclosure of tax returns under the Ethics in Government Act of 1978

The Director of the Office of Government Ethics may disclose returns described in section 102(j) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (Public Law 95–521; 5 U.S.C. App. 102(j)) to the extent such returns are required to be made available pursuant to such section.

.

(b)

Application

The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to disclosures made after the date of the enactment of this Act.