Washington, D.C. (July 14, 2026) – In a letter to Representatives Claudia Tenney (R-NY), Dina Titus (D-NV) and Donald Beyer (D-VA), the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) commended the legislators’ bipartisan leadership in introducing H.R. 9496, the End Penalties on American Hostages Act. This bill would provide U.S. nationals who have been unlawfully detained or held hostage abroad with tax administration relief for them and their spouses.
The AICPA emphasizes the guiding principle of fairness, consistency and sound tax administration in its support for this legislation, noting that times of severe hardship such as these should be afforded broad tax penalty relief.
“The AICPA recognizes the overwhelming circumstances that American hostages and their families face – this bill is simply removing one more unnecessary obstacle and worry for our fellow Americans during an extraordinarily difficult time. This bill extends the same penalty relief to these families that is already available to victims of natural disasters and active-duty military, and the AICPA is proud to endorse this bill,” said Daniel Hauffe, Senior Manager for Tax Policy & Advocacy with the AICPA. “We applaud the House Ways and Means Committee for advancing this important proposal and look forward to its passage by the full House of Representatives.”
About the American Institute of CPAs
The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) is the world’s largest member association representing the CPA profession, with a history of serving the public interest since 1887. AICPA members represent many areas of practice, including business and industry, public practice, government, education, and consulting. A founding member of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, the AICPA sets ethical standards for the profession, attestation standards, and U.S. auditing standards for private companies, not-for-profit organizations, and federal, state, and local governments. It develops and grades the Uniform CPA Examination, offers specialized credentials, partners across the profession to build future talent, and drives continuing education to advance the vitality, relevance, and quality of the profession.
###
Contact: Veronica L. Vera
202-434-9215
Veronica.Vera@aicpa-cima.com