117 HR 4173 IH: Tax-Free Pell Grant Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2021-06-25
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I
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4173
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 25, 2021
Mr. Doggett (for himself, Ms. Adams, Mr. Allred, Mr. Bishop of Georgia, Mr. Butterfield, Mr. Cárdenas, Mr. Cartwright, Mr. Castro of Texas, Ms. Chu, Mr. Cicilline, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Connolly, Mr. Courtney, Mr. Danny K. Davis of Illinois, Mr. Deutch, Mrs. Dingell, Mr. Espaillat, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Ms. Leger Fernandez, Mr. Garamendi, Ms. Garcia of Texas, Mr. Green of Texas, Ms. Jayapal, Ms. Johnson of Texas, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Ms. Lee of California, Mr. Lowenthal, Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of New York, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Mfume, Mr. Nadler, Mr. Neguse, Mr. Pallone, Mr. Panetta, Mr. Pascrell, Mr. Pocan, Ms. Porter, Mr. Kelly of Pennsylvania, Mr. Raskin, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. David Scott of Georgia, Mr. Takano, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Ms. Titus, Mr. Tonko, Mr. Vargas, Mr. Vela, Ms. Velázquez, Mr. Welch, Mr. Langevin, and Mr. Yarmuth) 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 extend and modify the American Opportunity Tax Credit, and for other purposes.
1.

Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Tax-Free Pell Grant Act”.
2.

Expansion of pell grant exclusion from gross income
(a)

In general
Paragraph section 117(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking “received by an individual” and all that follows and inserting
“received by an individual—
(A)
as a scholarship or fellowship grant to the extent the individual establishes that, in accordance with the conditions of the grant, such amount was used for qualified tuition and related expenses, or
(B)
as a Federal Pell Grant under section 401 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (as in effect on the date of the enactment of the Tax-Free Pell Grant Act).”.
(b)

Effective date
The amendment made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2020.
3.

Expansion of American Opportunity and Lifetime Learning credits
(a)

In general
Section 25A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended—
(1)
in subsection (f)(1)—
(A)
in subparagraph (A), by striking “tuition and fees” inserting “tuition, fees, computer or peripheral equipment, child and dependent care expenses, and course materials”,
(B)
by striking subparagraph (D), and
(C)
by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
“(D)

Child and dependent care expenses
For purposes of this paragraph—
(i)

In general
The term “child and dependent care expenses” means amounts paid for the following expenses, but only if such expenses are incurred to enable the taxpayer to be enrolled in an eligible educational institution for any period for which there are 1 or more qualifying individuals with respect to the taxpayer:
(I)
expenses for household services, and
(II)
expenses for the care of a qualifying individual.
Such term shall not include any amount paid for services outside the taxpayer’s household at a camp where the qualifying individual stays overnight.
(ii)

Qualifying individual
The term “qualifying individual” has the meaning given such term in section 21(b)(1).
(iii)

Exception, dependent care centers
Rules similar to the rules of subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D) of section 21(b)(2) shall apply, except the term “child and dependent care expenses” shall be substituted for the term “employment-related expenses” each place it appears in such subparagraphs.
(E)

Child and dependent care expenses only qualified expenses when claimed by eligible student
Amounts paid for an expense described in subparagraph (E) may not be taken into account under this paragraph for a taxable year unless required for the enrollment or attendance of an individual described in subparagraph (A)(i) or subparagraph (A)(ii).
(F)

Computer or peripheral equipment
(i)

Defined
For purposes of this paragraph, the term “computer or peripheral equipment” means expenses for the purchase of computer or peripheral equipment (as defined in section 168(i)(2)(B), computer software (as defined in section 197(e)(3)(B)), or Internet access and related services, if such equipment, software, or services are to be used primarily by the individual during any of the years the individual is enrolled at an eligible educational institution.
(ii)

Dollar limit on amount creditable
The aggregate of the amounts paid or expenses incurred for computer or peripheral equipment which may be taken into account under this paragraph for a taxable year by the taxpayer shall not exceed $1,000.”, and
(2)
in subsection (g)(5)—
(A)
in the heading, by adding “or credit” at the end, and
(B)
by inserting “or credit” after “a deduction”.
(b)

Effective date
The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2020.