Remove the Return

Publication Date: September 2009

Publisher: Tax Policy Center

Author(s): William G. Gale

Research Area: Banking and finance

Keywords: Federal Budgets & Fiscal Policy; Tax Distribution and Economic Trends; Taxes and Social Programs; Budget Issues

Type: Report

Abstract:

The Volcker task force on tax reform, part of the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board, faces a daunting task that is made materially more difficult by ex ante constraints placed on its purview and recommendations. Broad-based reform proposals seem to be out of the question, and distributional constraints appear to eliminate many serious ideas. Nevertheless, I believe that significant tax simplification is feasible despite the task force's constraints, and I will take it as a given that simplification is desirable.