Private equity has grown exponentially: it now controls and operates a large number of the companies in our economy. But private equity is just that: private. Its operations are confidential and difficult to parse. This article attempts to demystify the business of private equity. It also...
This document describes the income measure the Tax Policy Center (TPC) uses to analyze the distribution of federal taxes. TPC's income measure, which we call "expanded cash income" (ECI), is a broad measure of pre-tax income. We use it both to rank tax units in distribution tables and to...
The following is the text of a debate that occurred between Rosenthal and Needham at the May meeting of the American Bar Association Section of Taxation in Washington regarding the proper tax treatment of private equity funds and their partners under current law. The introduction should be...
Measuring the size of government is not simple. Standard measures omit important aspects of government action such as the many deductions, credits, and other tax preferences used to influence resource allocation. We argue that many tax preferences are effectively spending. Traditional measures...
Leaders in both parties appear to favor revenue-neutral corporate tax reform that would lower today's 35 percent tax rate while slashing corporate tax breaks. Individual tax reform appears much more contentious, so some observers wonder whether Congress might pursue corporate tax reform by...
Small businesses occupy an iconic place in American public policy debates. This paper discusses interactions between the federal tax code, small business, and the economy. We summarize the characteristics of small businesses, identify the tax provisions that most affect small businesses, and...
Steven Rosenthal's testimony before the House Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures of the Committee on Ways and Means on the Discussion Drafts proposals to reform the tax rules for derivatives and securities investments.
The U.S. faces substantial and unsustainable budget deficits, which will require tax increases and spending cuts to resolve. A carbon tax could raise revenues, with several positive effects: it would improve environmental outcomes, increase economic efficiency, and allow the elimination of...
The revenues from a carbon tax could help finance lower corporate tax rates, extending business tax preferences, or other corporate tax reforms. Such a tax swap would reduce the environmental risks of carbon emissions and improve the efficiency of Americas corporate tax system. But it would also...
Private equity funds manage vast amounts of money: $2.5 trillion in 2010, much more than the $100 billion in 1994. They earn immense profits, largely from selling the stock of acquired and improved companies. This article focuses on the character of the funds' profits. It recommends that the IRS...
Private Equity Is a Business: Sun Capital and Beyond
Private equity has grown exponentially: it now controls and operates a large number of the companies in our economy. But private equity is just that: private. Its operations are confidential and difficult to parse. This article attempts to demystify the business of private equity. It also...
Measuring Income for Distributional Analysis
This document describes the income measure the Tax Policy Center (TPC) uses to analyze the distribution of federal taxes. TPC's income measure, which we call "expanded cash income" (ECI), is a broad measure of pre-tax income. We use it both to rank tax units in distribution tables and to...
Taxing Private Equity Funds and Their Partners: A Debate on Current Law
The following is the text of a debate that occurred between Rosenthal and Needham at the May meeting of the American Bar Association Section of Taxation in Washington regarding the proper tax treatment of private equity funds and their partners under current law. The introduction should be...
Tax Policy and the Size of Government
Measuring the size of government is not simple. Standard measures omit important aspects of government action such as the many deductions, credits, and other tax preferences used to influence resource allocation. We argue that many tax preferences are effectively spending. Traditional measures...
A Practical Challenge to Stand-Alone Corporate Tax Reform
Leaders in both parties appear to favor revenue-neutral corporate tax reform that would lower today's 35 percent tax rate while slashing corporate tax breaks. Individual tax reform appears much more contentious, so some observers wonder whether Congress might pursue corporate tax reform by...
Small Business, Innovation, and Tax Policy: A Review
Small businesses occupy an iconic place in American public policy debates. This paper discusses interactions between the federal tax code, small business, and the economy. We summarize the characteristics of small businesses, identify the tax provisions that most affect small businesses, and...
Financial Products Tax Reform Discussion Draft
Steven Rosenthal's testimony before the House Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures of the Committee on Ways and Means on the Discussion Drafts proposals to reform the tax rules for derivatives and securities investments.
Carbon Taxes as Part of the Fiscal Solution
The U.S. faces substantial and unsustainable budget deficits, which will require tax increases and spending cuts to resolve. A carbon tax could raise revenues, with several positive effects: it would improve environmental outcomes, increase economic efficiency, and allow the elimination of...
Carbon Taxes and Corporate Tax Reform
The revenues from a carbon tax could help finance lower corporate tax rates, extending business tax preferences, or other corporate tax reforms. Such a tax swap would reduce the environmental risks of carbon emissions and improve the efficiency of Americas corporate tax system. But it would also...
Taxing Private Equity Funds as Corporate 'Developers'
Private equity funds manage vast amounts of money: $2.5 trillion in 2010, much more than the $100 billion in 1994. They earn immense profits, largely from selling the stock of acquired and improved companies. This article focuses on the character of the funds' profits. It recommends that the IRS...