Who should pay more in taxes and what should be cut?

Posted By on December 11, 2012

Those of us watching the “dance” in Washington DC over the looming taxes and possible spending cuts closing in on every American can make one’s head spin. What we all know is that our government spends too much and seems unable to even come fiscalcliffsignclose to balancing their budget or coming up with a plan in order to realistically address it. A couple positives — The U.S. economic engine “could” address the revenue side IF encouraged to grow. Even an increase of 2% in economic grow (over the current 2% growth) could generate enough in tax revenues that would dwarf the tax rate increases demanded by President Obama. So my question is “Why isn’t the focus on growth?” The second positive is that neither Democrat or Republican benefits by going over the fiscal cliff, so there is an incentive to get a deal done before sequestration.

Unfortunately there is a list of never ending negatives. For this post, I point only to the tax rate and structure being trumpeted by President Obama and his merry band of mainstream media groupies. I’m not suggesting that increasing income tax rates from the current 36% to 39.6 for $200,000 and up earners ($250,000 joint) is alone going to sink our country, but don’t think that it solves any of our fiscal problems, nor does it encourage growth or make funding our government any more “fair.”

One of my primary concerns is that there will be an inevitable tax rate change – primarily because it sells well to the average Joe. Unfortunately it creates a long-term growth deterrent. It heavily impacts the small business owners who create the majority of jobs in America. This is the exact group we need to be encouraging in order to get the above mentioned national economy to 4%. These higher taxes seem to be coming at the same time big corporations are lobbying for more competitive U.S. corporate tax rates (which are needed, btw). Most people looking at the chart below understand, as do politicians, that U.S. based corporations are at a disadvantage worldwide. Most agree that putting American corporation on a level playing field with other developed nations make sense and that bringing their rates to somewhere around 25% (or Dems think 28%) needs to be done.

 corporatetaxrates_oecd2011

Of course what does this do if you are a “small business” paying taxes at the individual rate is being pushed up to 40%? (not to mention the additional 3.8% plus .9% Medicare tax and their state taxes  — ie. 14% in California.)

So, let’s say rates go up to 40% on top earners and small business … and taxes drop for American corporates to under 30% … what do you think will happen? Isn’t it logical?

  • Small business with “busy” CPAs will file C corp and switch from paying current 36% (proposed 40%) to expected lower corporate tax 25% or (28%)
  • Big Corporations will compete more efficiently and keep income in the U.S. and will expand/locate in states where taxes are low or zero if they haven’t already.
  • Less sophisticated and the smaller profitable small businesses will not expand or hire new employees due to higher taxes, Obamacare (cost of doing business) and find their companies less competitive with larger corporations paying lower taxes.
  • The expected revenue increase will be a net sum gain (unless economy grows and corporations bring cash home) while small business in America will get the short end of the stick and be hit with a higher tax bill, close their doors or just operate less profitably.
  • The big corporations will get bigger and those small businesses spending more for tax lawyers and CPA guidance may be able to avoid some additional taxes based on restructuring as a C corp for additional professional advice and $$$.

Is the “dance” seemingly around higher taxes instead of reducing spending and making government more efficient one worth going to? (of course we don’t have a choice … we are being shoved toward this cliff)

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