# Plain Language Summary: Ban IRS Biometrics Act

This bill prevents the IRS from requiring you to provide biometric information—like facial scans, fingerprints, or iris scans—in order to file taxes, pay taxes, or access your own tax information. Right now, the IRS has been moving toward using facial recognition technology as part of their identity verification process, particularly for online account access. This bill would stop that practice and make it illegal for the IRS to demand this type of personal biological data from taxpayers.

The bill defines biometric information broadly to include any physical characteristic or behavioral trait that can identify you or verify your identity. This covers facial images, fingerprints, iris scans, and similar technologies. The key protection here is that you couldn't be denied access to IRS services or forced to jump through extra hoops just because you refuse to provide biometric data. If you want to file your taxes or check your account online, the IRS would have to let you do it without scanning your face or taking your fingerprints.

There's also a practical cleanup provision: the bill requires the IRS to develop a plan within six months to safely destroy any biometric information they've already collected before this law would take effect. This means any facial scans or other biometric data the IRS or their contractors have gathered would need to be securely deleted. The bill applies to tax years ending after December 31, 2021, so it would affect how the IRS operates going forward.

Ban IRS Biometrics Act

Huizenga, Bill

Ban IRS Biometrics Act This bill prohibits the Department of the Treasury from requiring taxpayers to provide biometric information as a condition of filing any tax return, receiving any service, or accessing taxpayer information. The bill defines biometric information as any information regarding any measurable physical characteristic or personal behavioral trait used to recognize the identity, or verify the claimed identity or location, of an individual, including facial images, fingerprints, and iris scans. Treasury must also develop a plan for the safe and secure destruction and disposal of any biometric information collected or used prior to the enactment of this bill.