The top Republican tax-writer in Congress proposed restructuring the U.S. tax code to eliminate dozens of breaks to pay for reductions in the corporate and individual rates.
The 979-page plan from Representative Dave Camp would mark the biggest changes to the U.S. tax system since 1986, affecting every part of the U.S. economy.
The proposal includes new limits on breaks for health insurance, retirement savings and mortgage interest. The plan would repeal breaks for student loan interest, moving expenses, accelerated depreciation, and state and local taxes.
Corporations would have a top rate of 25%, down from 35%. Individuals would have a top rate of 25%, down from 39.6%. A 10% surtax would affect the very top earners, making their marginal rate higher.
The proposal would yield “a simpler, fairer tax code that leads to a stronger economy,” said Camp, a Michigan Republican and chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.
Opinion: Camp's proposal likely to be dead on arrival
Camp’s goal is to generate the same amount of revenue for the government and do so without reducing the tax burden for top earners.
His plan stands little chance of becoming law this year. Republican leaders are staying mum on the details and Democrats say the plan should increase revenue for the government.
‘Big issues’
“We have an obligation to debate the big issues of the day,” Camp told reporters in unveiling the plan.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest praised Camp for proposing to reduce tax breaks that “the president has long advocated” curbing.
“There are a couple of reasons to be optimistic about it,” Earnest said, although he added, “There are some aspects of his proposal that we do not agree with.”
Senator Charles Schumer of New York, a senior Democrat on the Finance Committee, called Camp’s plan “dead on arrival” because it would eliminate the state and local tax deduction, which is important to residents of high-tax states such as New York and California.
In releasing his plan on February 26 in Washington, Camp provided the most complete picture yet of the tradeoffs required to satisfy the rate-cut objective Republicans have set.
Limiting deductions
He proposed a 3.5 basis-point quarterly tax on assets of the biggest banks and insurers, and limits on the deductibility of entertainment, advertising and research expenses.
He proposed repealing the last-in, first-out accounting method using by many oil companies and wholesalers. Some breaks, such as the tax exemption for credit union income, were untouched.
U.S. multinational companies would have lighter taxes on their future profits earned outside the country. Under the plan, they would pay a one-time tax on assets they’ve accumulated outside the U.S. under the current system, with the proceeds dedicated to the Highway Trust Fund.
In response to concerns from companies including Corning Inc. and 3M Co., Camp created a two-tiered rate structure for the one-time tax. Cash and equivalents would face an 8.75% tax; other assets, such as the value of factories, would have a 3.5% rate.
Industry trade groups reacted swiftly in opposition to many of the specific provisions, arguing that they would be hurt or were singled out.
‘Not easy’
“Chairman Camp’s ideas show he has put a lot of work into tax reform, but there is a great deal of work left to do,” Jack Gerard, president of the American Petroleum Institute, said in a statement. “Tax reform is not easy to achieve. As this proposal illustrates, it is even harder to get right.”
Rob Nichols, president of the Financial Services Forum, said the tax on big-bank assets countered Camp’s stated goals.
“A tax that singles out one specific industry is utterly inconsistent with the fundamental goals of tax reform to lower rates, broaden the base, and remove industry-specific treatments,” said Nichols, whose group is composed of chief executive officers of the 18 largest financial institutions.
In response to a question about the bank tax, Camp said banks would benefit from the corporate income tax rate cut and that it was necessary to make the plan revenue-neutral.
The National Retail Federation, whose members often have high effective tax rates, immediately backed the proposal.
“This plan would give our nation the simpler, fairer tax system that we desperately need,” federation President Matthew Shay said in an e-mailed statement. “This is the foundation for job creation, increased take-home pay and business growth.”
