What Trump’s Tax Proposal Will Cost

The following article by Wilson Andrews, Kenan Davis, Adam Pearce and Nadja Popovich was posted on the New York Times website April 26, 2017:

President Trump’s proposed changes to the tax code could increase the deficit by an estimated $3 trillion to $7 trillion over the next decade, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, an advocacy group focused on reducing deficits.

The one-sheet plan, released Wednesday, was light on details but promised to be “the biggest tax cut and the largest tax reform in the history of our country.” Here’s a breakdown of the estimated cost for specific changes proposed in the White House’s plan.

Increases the Deficit

Simplify tax brackets +$1.5 trillion
The plan moves from seven tax brackets for individuals to three — 10 percent, 25 percent and 35 percent — and lowers the top rate.
Repeal the Alternative Minimum Tax +$0.4 trillion
The Alternative Minimum Tax limits the deductions wealthy people can take.
Double the standard deduction +$1.5 trillion
The standard deduction currently allows individuals to deduct $6,350 and married couples to deduct $12,700 from their taxable income. The new plan would double that.
Repeal the inheritance tax +$0.2 trillion
Taxes are currently levied on estates worth more than $5.5 million when the estate is passed from a deceased person to his or her heirs.
Reduce the corporate tax rate +$3.7 trillion
Mr. Trump’s plan cuts the corporate tax rate to 15 percent from 35 percent. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimated that this would directly reduce revenue by $2.2 trillion. The deficit could increase a further $1.5 trillion because the change would encourage individuals to use creative accounting to take advantage of the lower corporate tax rate, it says.
Repeal the tax on investment income +$0.2 trillion
This plan would eliminate a 3.8 percent tax on investment income that helps fund the Affordable Care Act.
Expand child care benefits Unknown
The Trump administration is considering increasing tax credits for child care.

Decreases the Deficit or No Impact

Repeal most deductions except for mortgages and charitable giving –$2.0 trillion
Administration officials said they will get rid of all deductions except the mortgage and charitable deductions. That could raise up to $4.5 trillion. Just capping deductions, as Mr. Trump proposed during his campaign, would raise $500 billion.
One-time tax on overseas profits $0
A one-time tax on money currently held by companies overseas would be accompanied by a new method of taxing companies only on income generated in the United States.
Repeal other tax preferences Unknown
The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget did not try to estimate the effect of the “Eliminate tax breaks for special interests” proposal.

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