The Distributional Burden of Taxing Estates and Unrealized Capital Gains at the Time of Death

The Distributional Burden of Taxing Estates and Unrealized Capital Gains at the Time of Death PDF Author: James M. Poterba
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Capital gains tax
Languages : en
Pages : 56

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Book Description
The 1998 Survey of Consumer Finances provides information on household wealth ownership that can be used to estimate the effect of changing the Unified Estate and Gift Tax Credit on estate tax revenues. The survey also includes data on the prices at which assets were purchased, along with information on their market values. This makes it possible to compare the revenue yield and the distributional consequences of taxing estates with those of taxing unrealized capital gains on assets held by individuals who die. This paper uses data from the Survey of Consumer Finances to estimate the revenue effects of changes in both estate tax provisions and capital gains tax rules. It finds that among those with small estates ($1 million or less), taxing capital gains at death would collect more revenue than the current estate tax from roughly half of the decedents. For those with larger estates, replacing the estate tax with a tax on unrealized gains at death would result in a substantial reduction in total tax payments. The revenue estimates and distributional analyses assume no change in the current capital gains realization behavior of taxpayers, even if the tax law changes. This is an important limitation, and the paper notes several directions for further research that might help to relax this assumption.

The Distributional Burden of Taxing Estates and Unrealized Capital Gains at the Time of Death

The Distributional Burden of Taxing Estates and Unrealized Capital Gains at the Time of Death PDF Author: James M. Poterba
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Capital gains tax
Languages : en
Pages : 56

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Book Description
The 1998 Survey of Consumer Finances provides information on household wealth ownership that can be used to estimate the effect of changing the Unified Estate and Gift Tax Credit on estate tax revenues. The survey also includes data on the prices at which assets were purchased, along with information on their market values. This makes it possible to compare the revenue yield and the distributional consequences of taxing estates with those of taxing unrealized capital gains on assets held by individuals who die. This paper uses data from the Survey of Consumer Finances to estimate the revenue effects of changes in both estate tax provisions and capital gains tax rules. It finds that among those with small estates ($1 million or less), taxing capital gains at death would collect more revenue than the current estate tax from roughly half of the decedents. For those with larger estates, replacing the estate tax with a tax on unrealized gains at death would result in a substantial reduction in total tax payments. The revenue estimates and distributional analyses assume no change in the current capital gains realization behavior of taxpayers, even if the tax law changes. This is an important limitation, and the paper notes several directions for further research that might help to relax this assumption.

The Distributional Burdon of Taxing Estates and Unrealized Capital Gains at the Time of Death

The Distributional Burdon of Taxing Estates and Unrealized Capital Gains at the Time of Death PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 39

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“The” Distributional Burden of Taxing Estates and Unrealized Capital Gains

“The” Distributional Burden of Taxing Estates and Unrealized Capital Gains PDF Author: James M. Poterba
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description


Estate Vs. Capital Gains Taxation

Estate Vs. Capital Gains Taxation PDF Author: Robert B. Avery
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Rethinking Estate and Gift Taxation

Rethinking Estate and Gift Taxation PDF Author: William G. Gale
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 9780815719861
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 544

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Book Description
Although estate and gift taxes raise a small fraction of federal revenues, they have become sources of increasing political controversy. This book is designed to inform the current policy debate and build a conceptual basis for future scholarship. The book contains eleven original studies of estate and gift taxes, along with discussants' comments. The essays provide background and historical information; analyze the optimal taxation of estates and gifts; examine the effects of the tax on charitable contributions, saving behavior, the distribution and level of wealth, tax avoidance and tax evasion; and explore the effects of alternatives to estate taxation.

U.S. Capital Gains and Estate Taxation

U.S. Capital Gains and Estate Taxation PDF Author: Wojciech Kopczuk
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Capital gains tax
Languages : en
Pages : 39

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Book Description
Recent changes in the U.S. estate taxation significantly reduced its reach and revenue, although the tax continues to contribute to progressivity of the overall tax system and is likely to play a role in influencing the long term concentration of wealth. I discuss recent changes, empirical evidence and theory applying to this form of taxation. I then discuss directions for a reform of the tax. The interaction between estate taxation and other components of the tax system is most important in the context of capital gains, with step up in basis partially compensating for high marginal rates while at the same time creating very strong deferral incentives. Modifying this interaction is long overdue and experience from the temporary repeal of the tax in 2010 is helpful in understanding challenges. I discuss options for modifying this interaction, including implications both for estate tax design and for the great majority of taxpayers who are not subject to the estate tax. Eliminating the step-up in basis would allow for increasing the efficiency of the tax system, while the additional revenue could be used to either mitigate the consequences for the affected taxpayers by reducing the estate tax burden or increasing the overall progressivity. I note that any exemption for capital gains at death does retain deferral incentives for individuals with unrealized capital gains smaller than the exemption and suggest that a lifetime exemption would have better incentive properties. I also note that the treatment of spousal transfers under any capital gains at death approach is critical for the revenue implications.

Effects of the Federal Estate Tax on Farms and Small Businesses

Effects of the Federal Estate Tax on Farms and Small Businesses PDF Author: United States. Congressional Budget Office
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Family farms
Languages : en
Pages : 60

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Income Taxation of Trusts and Estates

Income Taxation of Trusts and Estates PDF Author: Alan S. Acker
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781617469855
Category : Trusts and trustees
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
"... provides detailed coverage of the rules governing the income taxation of estates, trusts, and their beneficiaries"--Page iii.

International Evidence on the Effects of Having No Capital Gains Taxes

International Evidence on the Effects of Having No Capital Gains Taxes PDF Author: Fraser Institute (Vancouver, B.C.)
Publisher: The Fraser Institute
ISBN: 0889751897
Category : Capital gains tax
Languages : en
Pages : 36

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Book Description


Handbook of the Economics of Finance

Handbook of the Economics of Finance PDF Author: George M. Constantinides
Publisher: Newnes
ISBN: 0444535950
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 859

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Book Description
In the 11 articles in this first of two parts, top scholars summarize and analyze recent scholarship in corporate finance. Covering subjects from corporate taxes to behavioral corporate finance and econometric issues, their articles reveal how specializations resonate with each other and indicate likely directions for future research. By including both established and emerging topics, Volume 2 will have the same long shelf life and high citations that characterize Volume 1 (2003). - Presents coherent summaries of major finance fields, marking important advances and revisions - Describes the best corporate finance research created about the 2008 financial crises - Exposes readers to a wide range of subjects described and analyzed by the best scholars