Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-2011
Abstract
The December 2010 compromise between President Barack Obama and the Republicans extended the 15% tax rate on dividends through the end of 2012. At that point, however, the rate may revert to the Clinton administration rate-39.6%-or be raised to 20%-as proposed by the Obama Administration. Thus, the United States may either abandon corporate-shareholder integration, maintain partial integration, or perhaps even adopt the George W Bush administration's 2003 proposal to exempt dividends altogether-as advocated by some Republicans in Congress. Given this uncertainty and the likelihood of additional Congressional action, now may be a good time to revisit the integration issue. Another reason for revisiting the topic is that several recent proposals would restrict the deductibility of interest at the corporate level as a way of reducing the pressure on the distinction between debt and equity, which was also a reason to adopt partial integration in 2003. The President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board has identified integration as a top policy priority in its report on options for federal tax reform.
Recommended Citation
Avi-Yonah, Reuven S. "The Case for Dividend Deduction." A. C. Chenchinski, co-author. Tax Law. 65, no. 1 (2011): 3-14.
Comments
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