Tax Reform Overview
The 2-4-8 Tax Blend is a federal tax reform plan that would replace the
regressive, job killing payroll taxes with a 2% net wealth tax
(excluding $15,000 cash and retirement funds up to $500,000). This enables the income tax
rate to be lowered to a flat 8% (because over $1 trillion in tax expenditures
are not needed when the rates are very low). Rather than using a net wealth
tax to “soak the rich” (as some have suggested), the same 2% wealth tax rate and 8% income tax rate
would apply to all. Because 50% of the population has only 1% of the wealth and
10% owns 75% of the wealth the combination tax rate is progressive even
though the rates are identical for rich and poor.
For business, there would be a 4% VAT and the C
corporation income tax rate would be reduced to 8% (for the lowest business
tax rates in the developed
world).
The 2-4-8 Tax Blend is the only tax reform intended to solve the
following economic issues:
1. The elimination of the payroll tax on labor will encourage the
growth of U.S. jobs.
2. The broad net wealth tax base places the growing Social Security and
Medicare programs on sound financial footing without taxing younger workers.
3. With an 8% corporate rate there would be little reason for deferral of taxes on
foreign corporate profits and no reason for a territorial tax system.
4. The 2% net wealth tax provides a negative reinforcer (as in “use it or
lose it”) to productive business investment. The low 8% income tax rate also
supplements business growth.
5. Taxing net wealth eliminates any policy need for estate tax, gift tax or
capital gains tax.
6. The $15,000 cash exemption encourages modest savings for emergencies and
liquidation for tax payments.
7. The exemption for retirement funds (up to $500,000 per person) recognizes
economic mobility and the need to accumulate some wealth over the course of
a lifetime.
8. Deductions for mortgage interest, student loans, consumer purchases, etc.
are not needed where the net wealth computation effectively gives a 2%
credit for the unpaid principal.
9. The combined flat tax rates are fair and progressive with no need for
rate brackets or tax credits - (that are necessary when taxing only one tax
base).
10. The elimination of the tax deduction for charitable contributions
will slow the out-of-control growth of public nonprofit institutions which
increased their wealth by 80% in just 10 years (2000 to 2010) and now have
more than seven times the wealth of half the population. The shift in assets
which would otherwise be used for investment in business has also resulted
in the loss of millions of private sector jobs.
The following objections have been repeated often but cannot
withstand scrutiny:
1. Assets are difficult to value:
Valuation of assets is easy with
digital filing of tax returns and internet-database technology which was not
widely available 10 or 20 years ago. Taxpayer assistance and automation
improvements by the IRS is considered a threat by many opposed to tax
reform. See
Free File.
2. An Amendment to the Constitution is needed:
An income tax surcharge based on net wealth (or simply a tax on net
wealth) includes but is not limited to
a tax on property within state borders and thus the tax rates would not have
to be apportioned among the states.
Other Plan Descriptions
Submission to Ways and Means Tax Reform Working Groups - March 2013
Creating New Wealth by
Taxing Net Wealth
Submission
to Senate
Finance Committee and House Ways and Means Committee
Expanding the Tax Base to Obtain the
Lowest Possible Rates
|