March 14, 2025
Mr. Panetta (for himself, Mr. Austin Scott of Georgia, Mr. Moore of Utah, Mr. Kelly of Mississippi, Mr. Hudson, Mr. Carbajal, Mr. Nunn of Iowa, Mr. McCormick, Mr. Messmer, Mr. Schneider, Mr. Davis of North Carolina, Mr. Van Orden, Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia, Ms. Houlahan, Mr. Moulton, and Mr. Mills) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
To provide that members of the Armed Forces performing services in Kenya, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Chad shall be entitled to tax benefits in the same manner as if such services were performed in a combat zone.
Section 1. Treatment of certain individuals performing services in Kenya, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Chad
(a) In general
For purposes of the following provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, a qualified hazardous duty area shall be treated in the same manner as if it were a combat zone (as determined under section 112 of such Code):
(1)
Section 2(a)(3) (relating to special rule where deceased spouse was in missing status).
(2)
Section 112 (relating to the exclusion of certain combat pay of members of the Armed Forces).
(3)
Section 692 (relating to income taxes of members of Armed Forces on death).
(4)
Section 2201 (relating to members of the Armed Forces dying in combat zone or by reason of combat-zone-incurred wounds, etc.).
(5)
Section 3401(a)(1) (defining wages relating to combat pay for members of the Armed Forces).
(6)
Section 4253(d) (relating to the taxation of phone service originating from a combat zone from members of the Armed Forces).
(7)
Section 6013(f)(1) (relating to joint return where individual is in missing status).
(8)
Section 7508 (relating to time for performing certain acts postponed by reason of service in combat zone).
(b) Qualified hazardous duty area
For purposes of this section, the term qualified hazardous duty area
means Kenya, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Chad, if as of the date of the enactment of this section any member of the Armed Forces of the United States is entitled to special pay under section 310 of title 37, United States Code (relating to special pay; duty subject to hostile fire or imminent danger), for services performed in such location. Such term includes such location only during the period such entitlement is in effect.
(c) Effective date
The provisions of this Act shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.