Law Commons^™

The Tax Reform Act Of 1986: Simplicity, Equity, And Efficiency, Douglas Holtz-Eakin

Akron Tax Journal

The Tax Reform Act of 1986 (TRA86) has added another chapter to the already crowded tax history of the 1980's. Since the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980, the nation has seen several major tax changes: The Economic Recovery Tax Act in 1981, The Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act in 1982, and TRA86. With tax reform now well down on the list of legislative priorities (at least until next year!) it seems a propitious time for a general assessment of the structure of the federal tax system.

This paper reviews TRA86 with an eye toward these issues. The order …