The Federal Gift Tax

The Federal Gift Tax
Author: David Joulfaian
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2007
Genre:
ISBN:

The gift tax was first enacted in 1924, repealed in 1926, overhauled and reintroduced in 1932. At its peak in fiscal year 1999, it raised $4.6 billion in revenues, before the recent phased-in tax rate reductions ushered by the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (EGTRRA) took effect. It is noteworthy that the gift tax was first enacted as a protective measure to minimize estate and income tax avoidance, and not for its direct revenue yield. Similarly, EGTRRA, while phasing out the estate tax, retained the gift tax for the very same reasons. Unlike the estate tax which faces an uncertain future, the gift tax is little affected by recent legislative proposals and will remain part of the tax code for the foreseeable future. Nevertheless, the gift tax has been the subject of little scrutiny and studies of its economic implications are rare. This paper is an attempt to fill this void. It traces the evolution of the gift tax since its inception, and sketches out the structure of the tax and its complex interactions with the income and estate taxes. The paper also provides an overview of the direct fiscal contribution of the gift tax, and traces the number of taxpayers over time as well as their attributes. It concludes with a discussion of the behavioral effects of the gift tax and a review of the scant literature. These include empirical evidence on the choice between gifts and bequests, timing of gifts, and compliance among others.

Making the Modern American Fiscal State

Making the Modern American Fiscal State
Author: Ajay K. Mehrotra
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 447
Release: 2013-09-30
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1107043921

Making the Modern American Fiscal State chronicles the rise of the US system of direct and progressive taxation.

Income Tax Law and Accounting, 1918

Income Tax Law and Accounting, 1918
Author: Godfrey N. Nelson
Publisher: Forgotten Books
Total Pages: 398
Release: 2015-06-15
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9781330315323

Excerpt from Income Tax Law and Accounting, 1918: Being a Practical Application of the Provisions of the Federal Income Tax Act of September 8, 1916, as Amended; The War Income Tax and the War Excess Profits Tax Laws of October 3, 1917; And Containing the Corporation Capital Stock Tax Law and Ruling Ther The numerous commendatory reports upon the first edition of this book and the requests, by those who used it, for one covering the new laws, have impelled the author to write the present revised and enlarged edition. By reason of the material amendments of the Income Tax Act of September 8, 1916, and the enactment of the War Income and the War Excess Profits Taxes, contained in the War Revenue Bill of October 3, 1917, all of which are treated herein, have necessitated the rewriting of the greater part of the book so that the present edition is, practically, an entirely new work. The original scheme of arrangement, however, has been largely adhered to with the view of making the book a practical guide to those required to prepared returns either for themselves or others. All Treasury Decisions issued to date, bearing upon the Excess Profits Tax Law, have been incorporated herein either in the text or in foot-notes. From time to time additional decisions and regulations will be issued by the Treasury Department "as occasion demands," copies of which may be obtained upon application to the local collectors or to the Commissioner of Internal Revenue at Washington. Many problems arising under the Excess Profits Tax Law will not be ruled upon by the Department until applications for rulings are formally presented. In the absence of specific rulings the writer has suggested interpretations of the law, particularly with respect to methods of computing invested capital. In such matters as the writer has ventured his construction of the law the suggestions contained herein should be used in conjunction with the decisions and regulations that will be promulgated by the Department. The Department should be consulted freely and unhesitatingly and questions of importance should be submitted for special rulings. Such questions form the basis of decisions and rulings and the solution of your problems may help many others who encounter the same difficulties. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Taxation: the People's Business

Taxation: the People's Business
Author: Andrew William Mellon
Publisher: New York : Arno Press, 1973 [c1924]
Total Pages: 248
Release: 1924
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN:

"Address of the President of the United States before the National Republican Club at the Waldorf-Astoria, New York, February 12, 1924": pages 216-227.

The Federal Estate Tax

The Federal Estate Tax
Author: David Joulfaian
Publisher: MIT Press
Total Pages: 213
Release: 2024-02-06
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 026255111X

A comprehensive and accessible account of the U.S. estate tax, examining its history and evolution, structure and inner workings, and economic consequences. Governments have been levying some form of inheritance tax since the ancient Egyptians did so in the seventh century BC. In the United States, the federal government experimented with various forms of inheritance taxes, settling on an estate tax in 1916 and a gift tax in 1932. Despite this long history, there are few empirical studies of the federal estate tax. This book offers the first comprehensive look at U.S. estate and inheritance taxes, examining their history and evolution, structure and inner workings, and economic consequences. Written by David Joulfaian, a veteran economist at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the book provides accessible accounts of such topics as changes in tax laws, issues of equity, the fiscal contribution of the estate tax, and its behavioral effects. Joulfaian traces the evolution of U.S. inheritance taxes from 1797 to the present, noting that the estate tax rate and base expanded through 1976, then began to decline. He describes the tax itself, explaining that it currently applies to estates and gifts in excess of $11.18 million, and outlines applicable deductions and credits. He sketches a profile of taxpayers and their beneficiaries; surveys the revenues from estate and gift taxes; and discusses the effect of estate taxation on labor decisions, saving and wealth accumulation, charitable giving, life insurance ownership, and other economic activities. Finally, he addresses criticisms of the estate tax and analyzes its shortcomings. Accompanying tables present a wealth of data gathered by Joulfaian in his research and not available elsewhere.