Tax Reform, Tax Arbitrage, and the Taxation of "Carried Interest": Testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means

Publication Date: September 2007

Publisher: Tax Policy Center

Author(s): C. Eugene Steuerle

Research Area: Banking and finance

Keywords: Tax Policy; Tax Distribution and Economic Trends; Taxes, the Budget, and the Economy; General Tax Policy

Type: Report

Abstract:

C. Eugene Steuerle gave testimony on the taxation of carried interest before the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means. He notes among his findings that as a matter of both efficiency and equity, capital gains relief is best targeted where tax rates are high, as in the case of the double taxation of corporate income. The case for providing capital gains relief for carried interest is relatively weak, resting primarily upon whether the administrative benefits of the simple partnership structure needs to be maintained in this arena; it does not rest upon arguments for favoring capital income, entrepreneurs, or risk.