1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Tax Refund Protection Act of 2017 . 2. Regulation of tax return preparers (a) In general Subchapter A of chapter 80 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 7812. Regulation of tax return preparers (a) In general The Secretary shall— (1) establish a program to license or certify tax return preparers subject to this section, (2) regulate such tax return preparers, and (3) before licensing or certifying a person as a tax return preparer subject to this section, require that the person demonstrate— (A) good character, (B) good reputation, (C) necessary qualifications to enable the person to provide to persons valuable service as a tax return preparer, and (D) competency to perform the functions of a tax return preparer. (b) Authority To impose a fee The Secretary shall require tax return preparers subject to this section to pay a reasonable fee for licensing or certification under this section. (c) Disclosure requirements The Secretary shall, by rule, require tax return preparers subject to this section to provide a disclosure statement to taxpayers that shall contain statements— (1) identifying the amount of fees such tax return preparer charges for preparing a Federal income tax return, filing a Federal income tax return, or executing a refund anticipation payment arrangement, and (2) identifying the average amount of time in which an individual who files a Federal income tax return electronically can expect to receive a refund by mail, according to information provided by the Internal Revenue Service. (d) Disciplinary procedures After notice and opportunity for a hearing, the Secretary may take any enforcement action against a tax return preparer subject to this section who— (1) is incompetent, (2) is disreputable, (3) violates regulations prescribed under this section, or (4) with intent to defraud, willfully and knowingly misleads or threatens a consumer. (e) Tax return preparer subject to section A tax return