“Permanent Tax Cuts of Americans Act” Introduced by the House
Posted on Jan 31, 2018 in Individual Taxation, News
This past Monday, Republican House Representative Rodney Davis introduced H.R. 4886, to make the individual provisions of the newly enacted tax law permanent. Under this bill, subtitles A and B of the tax law, which lower the individual tax rates, would be extended past their 2025 sunset dates with the goal to “provide future tax relief for individual taxpayers”. Read the Bill here:...
CRS Report Analyzes 2017 Federal Tax System In Anticipation of Tax Bill Changes
Posted on Jan 9, 2018 in Individual Taxation, Insurance Tax, International Tax, News, Pass-through Taxation
The Congressional Research Service (CRS) published Report 7-5700 on December 26, 2017, which provides an overview of the federal tax system as in effect through 2017. The report notes that the new tax bill, H.R. 1, will generate broad changes for individuals (personal exemptions; standard deduction) and businesses (different tax rate for pass-through business income; territorial tax...
Conference Committee Agreement Released for Tax Cuts & Jobs Act
Posted on Dec 18, 2017 in News
House and Senate Republicans unveiled their collective tax bill with the Conference Report and Agreement early Friday night. The text follows the Senate bill, but resolves differences between the Senate and House bills, and makes modifications and clarifications throughout. Republicans are expected to vote this week. Conference Report and Bill Read more: GOP unveils sweeping tax...
With a Consensus Tax Bill, Christmas May Come Early for Republicans
An agreement between Senate and House Republicans on a tax bill was finalized Wednesday morning. According to lawmakers and reports from aides, Senate and House Republicans have agreed to provisions including the following: • Corporate tax rate will drop from 35% to 21%, to go in effect in 2018. • Individuals will be allowed to deduct up to $10,000 in state and local taxes, split...All in a Late Night’s Work: Senate Passes Tax Bill
Posted on Dec 4, 2017 in News, Uncategorized
At approximately 2:00 a.m. on Saturday morning, the Senate passed its tax reform bill with a vote of 51-49. Changes to the bill, including some handwritten into the document, were made leading up to the final vote. The only Republican to vote against the bill was Senator Bob Corker who has continued concerns regarding the estimated $1+ trillion deficit over the next 10 years. Corker...
Senate May Vote on Its Tax Reform Bill as Early as Thursday, but There Are Hurdles to Overcome
At least a half dozen Republican senators have shown concern about the Senate version of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, threatening the passage of the bill by the end of this year. The bill, passed out of the Senate Finance Committee on November 17, faces its next major hurdle from the Senate Budget Committee who will meet Tuesday, November 28, to add a revenue-raising measure allowing...White House Officials State Willingness to Sacrifice Health Care Provision for the Tax Reform Greater Good
Posted on Nov 20, 2017 in Insurance Tax, News
The White House Budget Director, Mick Mulvaney, indicated that the Trump Administration is willing to strike the health care provision in the Senate’s proposed tax legislation repealing the requirement that everyone in the U.S. have health insurance or pay a fine. Striking this provision would leave the Senate $338 billion short of their revenue goal and would require Republican...
Orrin Hatch to introduce Senate tax reform bill amendments changing 401(k), IRA classifications
Posted on Nov 13, 2017 in International Tax, News
The Senate Finance Committee has released a full list of the proposed amendments to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act currently under consideration. Chairman Senator Orrin Hatch will present several amendments to the Senate’s tax reform bill during the mark up. His proposal includes a provision allowing publicly traded companies to deduct up to 12.5% of dividends paid to shareholders from...
Senate Bill Anticipated Later This Week; House Begins Markup of Their Tax Reform Legislation
Posted on Nov 6, 2017 in News, State and Local Tax
The House Ways and Means Committee began marking up the GOP tax bill this afternoon, and the process is expected to continue until Thursday. The markup will start with opening statements and then amendments are expected to be introduced throughout the week by Chairman Kevin Brady. With the floor open to Democrats, discussions and amendments are anticipated to focus on the...
President Trump Urges House Republicans to Adopt the Senate-Approved Budget to Speed Up Tax-Reform Process
Posted on Oct 23, 2017 in News
President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence urged House Republicans on a conference call yesterday to speed up the tax reform process by adopting the Senate-approved budget without further amendments. The chairwoman of the House Budget Committee, Rep. Diane Black, as well as Speaker Paul Ryan also voiced their support for the passage of the Senate budget this week. The end of this...
Administration Official States that Repatriation Tax Will Be in the 10% Range
Posted on Oct 3, 2017 in News
National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn stated on Sunday that the Trump administration has proposed taxing profits accumulated offshore in the “10 percent range.” The tax reform framework released on September 27 stated that there would be two rates for the repatriation tax, with cash taxed at a higher rate than illiquid assets, but did not specify an amount. Cohn did not indicate...
President Trump Advocates for Tax Reform
Posted on Sep 5, 2017 in News
In a speech intended to rally support for tax reform, President Trump outlined his commitment to simplifying the tax code, lowering corporate and individual rates and instituting a repatriation tax. The president reiterated that the corporate rate would “ideally” be lowered to 15 percent and referenced lowering taxes to help the middle class “afford childcare and the cost of raising a...
President Needs to Focus on Tax Reform after Bannon Departure
Posted on Aug 21, 2017 in News
Sara Fagen, the White House political director under George W. Bush, stated that President Trump needs to focus his administration on producing a tax reform package in the wake of Steve Bannon’s departure. According to Fagen, who sees the Bannon exit as a positive, the President needs an accomplishment on his record, particularly in light of his response to the racially charged events...
Republican Tax Reform Framework, but No Legislation, Reportedly Coming in September
Posted on Aug 14, 2017 in News
Sources indicate that the Trump administration expects the “Big Six” will release a short three- to five-page document in September outlining a plan for reforming the US tax code. The document will likely not be accompanied by legislation, previously targeted for September, but instead could serve to outline areas of agreement between the White House, Senate, and Congress. Neither the...
Cohn Calls for Sub-23% Corporate Tax Rate
Posted on Aug 7, 2017 in News, Pass-through Taxation
White House economic advisor Gary Cohn stated that the US must reduce the tax rate for corporations and pass-through entities below 23%. He indicated such a rate is necessary to encourage domestic corporations to keep their profits in the US by competing with corporate tax rates offered by most member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). ...