New bipartisan bill — modeled after tax holiday for military serving in combat zones — would give frontline health care workers & first responders tax holiday amidst COVID-19 pandemic

On May 12, 2020, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) announced he is cosponsoring the bipartisan Helping Emergency Responders Overcome Emergency Situations (HEROES) Act of 2020, which would provide a federal income tax holiday for four months to law enforcement officers, corrections officers, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, pharmacists, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, doctors, hospital and licensed medical facility support staff, and senior care facility staff during the coronavirus outbreak.

This bipartisan bill is modeled after the tax holiday that members of the military receive while they are actively serving in a combat zone.

“Here in one of the hardest hit areas in our entire country, North Jersey’s frontline health care workers and first responders are working incredibly hard to help keep our community safe and protected during this outbreak. It is because of their vital work that we will get through this,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “I’m a firm believer in always getting the backs of those who have ours, and this new bipartisan legislation will allow us to give back to our local heroes for all their dedication and sacrifice throughout this pandemic.”

Included in the HEROES Act is a provision to address potential protracted hot spots and grants the authority to the Secretary of the Treasury to extend the tax holiday for an additional three months. If a community experiences a spike in conditions outside the initial four-month window, the federal income tax exemption could be extended for frontline health care workers and first responders working in that community. 

Text of the HEROES Act is available to view here. 

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