H.R. 9481 – RETURN Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated July 2, 2026 at 12:32 PM UTC

The RETURN Act updates the tax code to make the IRS’s handling of refund claims more transparent and timely. It requires the agency to send taxpayers a clear written reason and appeal steps when a refund is denied, and it adds a penalty interest boost if the agency misses the 12‑month deadline, capped at $500 (adjusted for inflation). Frivolous claims are treated differently, receiving only a simple denial notice. The changes take effect for claims filed after a year from the law’s passage.

Key Provisions

The IRS must review any refund claim, decide on it, and if it disallows all or part of the claim, send the taxpayer a detailed written explanation and appeal instructions.
If the IRS does not meet the deadline (generally 12 months after receiving the claim), the interest rate on any overpayment will be increased by 1 percentage point, but the extra interest cannot exceed $500 (adjusted for inflation after 2026).
For claims the IRS deems frivolous, the detailed explanation is not required; the taxpayer will simply receive a denial notice.
A “frivolous claim” is defined as one based on a position a federal court has ruled frivolous and that the IRS has also identified as frivolous under existing law.
The new rules apply to refund claims received more than 12 months after the law’s enactment.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Ways and Means Committee

June 25, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

June 25, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Ways and Means Committee

June 25, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued June 25, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 9481

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 25, 2026

Ms. Ross (for herself, Mr. Panetta, and Ms. DeLauro) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

A BILL

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to improve responses by the Internal Revenue Service to claims for refund, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Restoring Efficiency in Taxpayer Updates, Refunds, and Notifications Act or the RETURN Act.

2.

Responses to claims for refund required

(a)

In general

Subsection (l) of section 6402 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows:

(l)

Explanation of reason for refund disallowance

(1)

In general

Not later than the applicable date, the Secretary shall review any claim for refund, make a determination with respect to such claim, and, in the case of a disallowance of such claim (in whole or in part), provide the taxpayer with a detailed written explanation for such disallowance, which shall—

(A)

be mailed to the last known address of the taxpayer, and

(B)

in the case of any taxpayer entitled to an appeal of such determination, include instructions for appealing such disallowance to the Internal Revenue Service Independent Office of Appeals.

(2)

Failure to make timely determination

(A)

In general

In the case of any claim for refund for which the Secretary fails to satisfy the requirements of paragraph (1) by the applicable date, for purposes of determining interest on any overpayment for any period subsequent to such date, the overpayment rate (as established under section 6621(a)(1)) shall be increased by 1 percentage point.

(B)

Limitation

With respect to any claim for refund described in subparagraph (A), the amount of any increase in interest on any overpayment pursuant to such subparagraph shall not exceed $500.

(C)

Adjustment for inflation

(i)

In general

In the case of any claim for refund filed during any calendar year beginning after 2026, the $500 amount in subparagraph (B) shall be increased by an amount equal to—

(I)

such dollar amount, multiplied by

(II)

the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year, determined by substituting calendar year 2024 for calendar year 2016 in subparagraph (A)(ii) thereof.

(ii)

Rounding

If any amount determined under clause (i) is not a multiple of $50, such amount shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $50.

(3)

Frivolous claims

(A)

In general

In the case of any frivolous claim—

(i)

paragraph (1) shall not apply, and

(ii)

not later than the applicable date, written notification of the denial of such claim shall be mailed to the last known address of the taxpayer.

(B)

Definition

For purposes of this paragraph, the term frivolous claim means a claim for refund which is based on a position which—

(i)

a Federal court has determined to be frivolous, and

(ii)

the Secretary has identified as frivolous for purposes of subsection (c) of section 6702.

(4)

Applicable date

For purposes of this subsection, the term applicable date means, with respect to any claim for refund—

(A)

the date which is 12 months after the date of receipt of such claim by the Secretary, or

(B)

such other date as is agreed to by the Secretary and the taxpayer.

.

(b)

Effective date

The amendment made by this section shall apply to any claim for refund received after the date which is 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act.