Passthrough Entities: The Missing Link in Business Tax Reform

17 Pages Posted: 13 Jan 2013 Last revised: 11 Sep 2015

See all articles by Karen C. Burke

Karen C. Burke

University of Florida Levin College of Law

Date Written: April 26, 2013

Abstract

Reform of the U.S. corporate tax system is again on the agenda. Despite important differences, many current proposals share two common goals: (1) reducing the statutory corporate tax rate to improve U.S. “international competitiveness” and (2) broadening the corporate tax base by reducing or eliminating business expenditures to offset revenue losses. Given the significance of the passthrough sector and the relationship between individual and corporate taxes, however, such reforms need to be considered within a broader context. Part I of this article discusses the growing significance of the passthrough sector, which now accounts for roughly half of net business income. Part II explores new incentives for retaining corporate earnings and mischaracterizing labor income that would arise from an increase in individual income tax rates coupled with a simultaneous decrease in corporate tax rates, and considers the feasibility of measures to curb such sheltering within corporations. Finally, Part III urges Congress to look beyond reducing business expenditures to expand the corporate tax base and recommends consideration of an entity-level tax on certain large partnerships.

Keywords: business tax reform, partnerships, capital gains, dividends, S corporations, compensation

JEL Classification: K34

Suggested Citation

Burke, Karen C., Passthrough Entities: The Missing Link in Business Tax Reform (April 26, 2013). 40 Pepperdine Law Review 1329 (2013), San Diego Legal Studies Paper No. 13-104, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2200109

Karen C. Burke (Contact Author)

University of Florida Levin College of Law ( email )

P.O. Box 117625
Gainesville, FL 32611-7625
United States

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