Cornyn, Wyden Reintroduce Bill to Exempt Trafficking Survivors’ Restitution from Federal Taxes

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) and I reintroduced our Human Trafficking Survivor Tax Relief Act, which would exempt civil damages, restitution, and other monetary awards given to human trafficking survivors from federal income taxes. It would also codify current Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance that makes restitution payments made to survivors in criminal cases free from federal income taxes.

Survivors of human trafficking often have to relive their abuses when they pursue justice. This legislation provides relief to survivors without the fear of being penalized or audited. It would also allow survivors who go through civil proceedings to receive the same treatment as those compensated through the criminal justice system. The last thing survivors should expect is to get stuck with a bill from the IRS.

“Human trafficking survivors face many hurdles in securing justice against their abusers,” said Sen. Wyden, Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. “This legislation exempts critical financial relief from federal taxes, ensuring survivors have resources to rebuild their lives.”

We are joined by Senators Tom Carper (D-DE), Rob Portman (R-OH), Tim Scott (R-SC), James Lankford (R-OK), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), and Roger Wicker (R-MI) as cosponsors of the Human Trafficking Survivor Tax Relief Act.

Background:

Under the Internal Revenue Code, civil damages awarded to human trafficking victims are considered taxable income. This legislation would exempt civil damages from federal income taxes, allowing survivors to file their taxes without worry of penalties or fees for not reporting awarded damages as income. It also would provide parity between criminal restitution, which is tax-exempt through IRS Notice 2012-12, and civil damages, which are not. Often, human trafficking survivors’ only recourse to pursue justice against traffickers is through civil litigation. Finally, the bill codifies IRS Notice 2012-12, ensuring that restitution payments made in criminal case remain tax-free.

The Human Trafficking Survivor Tax Relief Act is supported by the Freedom Network USA, the Polaris Project, & Rights4Girls.  Other organizations who have supported past-efforts include the End Child Pornography and Trafficking (ECPAT), the National Association to Protect Children, the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW), Shared Hope International, the National Children’s Alliance, Freedom Network USA, the Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking (ATEST), and the Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking (CAST).

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