Fiscally & Morally Responsible Social Security (Oasi Payroll Tax) Reform

24 Pages Posted: 24 Jan 2013

Date Written: January 7, 2013

Abstract

This proposal offers specific improvement options for the Social Security Trust to maintain long-term solvency without increasing taxes.

The primary solution offered is to allow taxpayers the option to manage their portion of Payroll Taxes through the already existing Federal Thrift Savings Plan system (or similar system) so that they may choose to construct a risk/return portfolio that offers greater benefits by the time of retirement. Portfolio decisions can be informed by the advice and tools that the TSP already has to offer federal employees, and can be augmented by any additional advice from private, certified sources that individuals choose. The proposed reform may allow for the permanent reduction in U.S. Payroll Taxes and make the Social Security Trust solvent without a change to benefits or the eligible retirement age. Other possibilities are also explored.

The expansion of the TSP to the public may also prove an excellent medium through which to provide free, certified financial education to every citizen.

The proposal is meant to be considered by decision-makers as part of the Budget Control Act 2012 deliberations, prior to a budget decision on March 1 2013, if possible.

The SSA program improvements offer decision-makers additional tradespace in balancing the budget this year and every year thereafter, may increase take-home pay for working Americans, may reduce taxes paid by corporations and business owners, boost markets and hiring in the near-term, and put the U.S. economy on a firm footing for the long-run, while providing solvency of the Social Security Trust without a decrease in benefits or an increase in taxes.

A secondary solution explores equalizing the incentive for all income classes to have children, which would require reducing the financial burden for middle or higher income families to have children. This would broaden the taxable population base beyond immigration-related solutions.

Suggested Citation

Bergen, Brett, Fiscally & Morally Responsible Social Security (Oasi Payroll Tax) Reform (January 7, 2013). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2206044 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2206044

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