Tax Law Commons^™

Structuring A Us Federal Vat, Reuven S. Avi-Yonah

Articles

On 18 and 19 February 2009, the American Tax Policy Institute (ATPI) sponsored a conference in Washington, DC, on “Structuring a Federal VAT: Design and Coordination Issues.” The purpose of the conference was to lay the ground for a potential future adoption of a federalVAT in the United States by discussing some of the technical issues related to two broad topics: firstly, how should such a US federal VAT be designed and, secondly, how should it be coordinated with the existing state retail sales taxes (RST). In this article, the author summarized the conference presentations.

"Taxnapping": How Murphy V. Irs Used Direct Taxation To Steal The Tax Reform Debate, Jason A. Derr

Barry Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Work Product Doctrine And Tax Accrual Workpapers, Steve R. Johnson

Scholarly Publications

In its rehearing of Textron, the First Circuit has an opportunity to rectify an error and curb unwise recent expansion of work product protection for tax accrual workpapers. In August 2007, a district court denied the government’s petition for enforcement of an IRS summons on Textron Inc. and its subsidiaries for tax accrual workpapers in connection with IRS examinations of the taxpayers’ 1998 to 2001 income tax returns. A divided panel of the First Circuit affirmed in January 2009. In March 2009, the First Circuit withdrew the panel opinion and dissent, and it set the case for en banc hearing …

Are You Not Entertained - Is This Not Why You Are Here - U.S. Taxation Of Foreign Athletes And Entertainers, Stephen Taylor

Jeffrey S. Moorad Sports Law Journal (1994 - )

No abstract provided.

Open Tenancies-In-Common, Bradley T. Borden

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

The Lds Church, Proposition Eight, And The Federal Law Of Charities, Brian Galle

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

This brief Commentary considers the merits of the argument that the Mormon Church's support for Proposition Eight violated federal tax law. I take as given the facts reported by the New York Times and other major news outlets. Although the facts are not really in dispute, much of the underlying law is. There are few clear guidelines governing lobbying by charities. In the end it is impossible to say with certainty whether the Church's conduct will have any tax-law repercussions. My conclusion that there is uncertainty, though, stands in contrast with existing claims that the expenditures of the LDS Church …

Risks, Rents And Regressivity Revisited, Reuven S. Avi-Yonah

Articles

This article seeks to survey the debate in the United States about whether the tax base should be income or consumption, and then focus on some recent arguments that have been made in favour of a consumption tax. In the author's opinion, none of these arguments are convincing, and he would favour adopting a consumption tax in addition to, and not in lieu of, the existing income tax.

Sophistry, Situational Ethics, And The Taxation Of The Carried Interest, Darryll K. Jones

Journal Publications

This Article is, in essence, a strident expression of indignation about what a majority of tax scholars and, indeed, legislators consider a glaring yet persistent inequity in the tax code. In short, sometimes extraordinarily well-paid fund managers receive compensation taxed at capital gains rates. All other, usually very much lower-compensated, service providers are taxed at ordinary rates. The result is clearly regressive and yet, as of late, even some respected and knowledgeable scholars-though still in the minority-have unabashedly set forth sophisticated-sounding justifications. Objections based on unfairness, real, or even merely perceived, are difficult to express without a tone of indignation, …

Designing Foreign Tax Credit Rules In China: The Case Of Foreign Loss Limitations, Wei Cui

All Faculty Publications

Over the last few years, China’s large trade surplus against other countries, as well as its high domestic savings rate even relative to its high investment rate, have resulted in a very substantial foreign currency reserve that puts the country in the position of a significant capital exporter. The huge amount of foreign currency assets held by the Chinese government— near $1.9 trillion at the end of 2008 — and a breathtaking series of acquisitions made by Chinese firms overseas are now salient items in international business reporting and public discussion. China’s new posture as an exporter of capital has …

The Intellectual Foundations Of The Modern American Fiscal State, Ajay K. Mehrotra

Articles by Maurer Faculty

No abstract provided.

Business Tax: China's Quasi-Vat, Wei Cui

All Faculty Publications

On 1 January 2009, new VAT rules entered into force in China. Under these rules, all registered businesses are entitled to recover VAT on the purchase of capital assets other than immovable property. The Chinese VAT system does however not yet cover services and transactions concerning immovable property, which are still subject to the all-stage, cumulative business tax. In this article, the author explains that the process of gradual transformation of the business tax into a VAT has started and that the current business tax should already be seen as a quasi-VAT.

Canadian Bijuralism And The Concept Of An Acquisition Of Property In The Federal Income Tax Act, David G. Duff

All Faculty Publications

The acquisition of property plays an important role in the federal Income Tax Act (ITA), determining eligibility for a number of tax benefits, including entitlement to capital cost allowance, investment tax credits, and the deductibility of interest expenses incurred in respect of eligible property. In spite of its importance, the concept of an acquisition of property is not defined in the ITA, and it has been subject to divergent interpretations in the common law and the civil law. The author traces the sources of law informing the meaning of an acquisition of property in the common law and the civil …

The Tax Treatment Of Cancelled Interest And Penalties On Consumer Debt, Richard C.E. Beck

Articles & Chapters

No abstract provided.

Open Tenancies-In-Common, Bradley T. Borden

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

A Historical Perspective On Montana Property Tax: 25 Years Of Statewide Appraisal And Appeal Practice, Karen E. Powell

Montana Law Review

A Historical Perspective on Montana Property Tax

Canada's Evolving Tax Treaty Policy Toward Low-Income Countries, Kim Brooks

Articles, Book Chapters, & Popular Press

Relative to at least some high-income countries, Canada has been willing to negotiate tax treaties that leave greater jurisdiction to tax (ie. more source jurisdiction) to low-income countries in its tax treaties. Nevertheless, Canada's tax treaty policy has not been overwhelmingly generous. This essay takes as its starting point Alex Easson's 1988 paper, The Evolution of Canada's Tax Treaty Policy Since the Royal Commission on Taxation. Focusing on the evolution of Canada's tax treaty policy since 1988, the essay examines three aspects of Canada's tax treaties that might increase the scope for source-based taxation by low-income countries. First, it examines …

The Real Value Of Tax Deferral, Christopher H. Hanna

Faculty Journal Articles and Book Chapters

A leading law professor wrote, almost 25 years ago, that Deferral of gain is not as serious as outright exemption [exclusion], but it is the next best thing, as sophisticated taxpayers and their counsel are now well aware. If exclusion is not possible, then according to the professor, the next best result is to defer paying taxes on the item of income. From a tax law standpoint, very few academics would disagree with the statement that deferral is the next best thing to exclusion.

But how important is tax deferral in the real word, particularly with respect to the Fortune …

Immortal Fame: Publicity Rights, Taxation, And The Power Of Testation, Joshua C. Tate

Faculty Journal Articles and Book Chapters

Publicity rights, or the rights to the use of one’s image and likeness, are a relatively recent form of property. Several states now recognize rights of publicity as survivable, meaning that the heirs of deceased celebrities can inherit those rights. Because U.S. law has traditionally granted each individual the power of testation, a celebrity can also freely devise the rights to persons of her choosing. Nevertheless, some scholars have recently envisioned the adoption of hypothetical state statutes under which publicity rights would pass automatically to specified statutory heirs regardless of the celebrity’s wishes. Destroying the power of testation, these scholars …

Does "Proceeds" Really Mean "Net Profits"? The Supreme Court's Efforts To Diminish The Utility Of The Federal Money Laundering Statute, Jimmy Gurulé

Journal Articles

The Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Santos is severely hampers the fight against drug traffickers, terrorists, mobsters and white collar criminals. It restricts the scope of the money laundering statute, defining the term “proceeds” in it as net profits, not gross receipts from unlawful activity. This imposes an unreasonable and unwarranted burden on prosecutors to prove net criminal profits, money acquired beyond the defendant’s overhead expenses from unlawful activities. The court’s holding also restricts other provisions of the money laundering statute, such as the concealment theory of money laundering, and it creates confusion over whether the Court’s restrictive …

The Limits Of Administrative Guidance In The Interpretation Of Tax Treaties, Michael S. Kirsch

Journal Articles

This Article addresses the increasingly important role of administrative guidance in interpreting the United States' international treaty obligations. The relationship between administrative guidance and treaties raises important issues at the intersection of international law, constitutional law, and administrative law. These issues are explored in the context of the United States' extensive tax treaty network. Tax treaties play an important role in a global economy, attempting to reconcile the complex and ever-changing internal tax laws of different countries. The Treasury Department is considering the increased use of administrative guidance to interpret the meaning and application of tax treaties, particularly in response …

Tax Shelters And Statutory Interpretation: A Much Needed Purposive Approach, Shannon Weeks Mccormack

Articles

Few are unaware that the Tax Code and Regulations provide a detailed, complex (and lengthy) set of rules. It is hardly surprising (or new) that taxpayers attempt to avoid these rules to lower their taxes. Courts and lawmakers have long grappled to identify abusive transactions and strip taxpayers of the associated tax savings. The transactions have, however, changed dramatically over the last decade making the task much more challenging. The rapid proliferation of aggressive and diverse tax shelters has created what many refer to as a tax shelter war. In general, tax shelters refer to transactions carefully designed to fit …

Coming Together After The Crisis: Global Convergence Of Private Equity And Hedge Funds, Houman B. Shadab

Northwestern Journal of International Law & Business

Two of the most significant types of alternative investment funds worldwide are hedge funds and private equity funds. A hedge fund typically engages in short-term trading of financial instruments and compensates its manager on an annual or quarterly basis. A private equity fund typically takes long-term management positions in companies and compensates the fund manager once every several years upon the sale of the fund's assets. Although primarily centered in the United States and Europe, numerous markets worldwide are home to each type of fund. Prior to the subprime mortgage-initiated financial crisis, there was a trend within the alternative investment …

Sophistry, Situational Ethics, And The Taxation Of The Carried Interest, Darryll K. Jones

Northwestern Journal of International Law & Business

This Article is, in essence, a strident expression of indignation about what a majority of tax scholars and, indeed, legislators consider a glaring yet persistent inequity in the tax code. In short, sometimes extraordinarily well-paid fund managers receive compensation taxed at capital gains rates. All other, usually very much lower-compensated, service providers are taxed at ordinary rates. The result is clearly regressive and yet, as of late, even some respected and knowledgeable scholars-though still in the minority-have unabashedly set forth sophisticated-sounding justifications. Objections based on unfairness, real, or even merely perceived, are difficult to express without a tone of indignation, …

Tax Avoidance In The 21st Century, David G. Duff

All Faculty Publications

Over the past few decades, several factors have contributed to what numerous revenue agencies and academic authors have characterized as a significant increase in tax avoidance activity. This paper considers both the causes of increased tax avoidance activity over the past several years as well as governmental responses to this phenomenon in key common law jurisdictions, notably Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. Part 2 examines the concept of tax avoidance, distinguishing unacceptable or abusive tax avoidance both from illegal tax evasion on the one hand and acceptable tax planning or tax minimization on the …

Tax Expenditures To Limit The Growth Of Carbon Emissions In Canada: Identification And Evaluation, David G. Duff, E. Ian Wiebe

All Faculty Publications

Unlike the U.S., which relies heavily on tax expenditures as instruments of energy and climate change policy, Canada has introduced very few such tax expenditures, relying instead on voluntary initiatives, direct subsidies, and limited regulatory measures to limit carbon emissions. This paper identifies and evaluates the most prominent tax expenditures in Canada to limit the growth of carbon emissions. As background to this inquiry, Part II reviews Canadian experience with carbon emissions over the last two decades and the limited government response to this growing problem. Part III identifies the most prominent tax expenditures that Canadian governments have introduced in …

It Down And Count The Cost:" A Framework For Constitutionally Enforcing The 501(C)(3) Campaign Intervention Ban, Benjamin Leff

Scholarly Articles in Law Reviews & Journals

Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) prohibits charities from intervening in a political campaign for or against a candidate for public office. The Internal Revenue Service (Service) currently interprets the campaign-intervention ban to absolutely prevent charities from communicating their views on candidates, even if such communications are completely financed by non-501 (c) (3) affiliates. This article argues that the current Service enforcement paradigm is unconstitutional because it exceeds the government interest in preventing tax-deductible donations to be used for campaign- intervention. A constitutional interpretation exists under the current statutory framework, but it would require the Service to shift …

The Estate And Gift Tax Implications Of Self-Settled Domestic Asset Protection Trusts: Can You Really Have Your Cake And Eat It Too?, Phyllis C. Taite

Faculty Articles

Self-settled asset protection trusts are wealth preservation trusts coupled with the spendthrift provisions. This type of trust permits the settler to have the benefit of treating the trust as a separate entity thereby protecting his assets from creditors while maintaining a pecuniary interest, as well as some level of control over what ultimately happens to the trust property. By providing asset protection from potential creditors while still having the ability to maintain a beneficial interest in the trust, the settler can essentially “have his cake and eat it too.” The typical domestic self-settled asset protection trust may not be treated …

Wealth Is Just Capital!, George Mundstock

Articles

No abstract provided.

Hidden Taxes, Brian Galle

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

The idea of hidden taxes is as old as John Stuart Mill, but convincing evidence of their existence is new. In this Article, I survey and critique recent studies that claim to show that there are some taxes that can go unnoticed by those who pay them. I also develop the array of unanswered theoretical questions and policy implications that potentially follow from the studies' results.

Probably the central question for hidden taxes is whether they might enable government to raise revenue without also distorting the economy. If so, I argue, they have the potential to radically refashion the architecture …

Tax Penalties And Tax Compliance, Michael Doran

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

This paper examines the relationship between tax penalties and tax compliance. Conventional accounts, drawing from deterrence theory and norms theory, assume that the relationship is purely instrumental--that the function of tax penalties is solely to promote tax compliance. This paper identifies another aspect of the relationship that generally has been overlooked by the existing literature: the function of tax penalties in defining tax compliance. Tax penalties determine the standards of conduct that satisfy a taxpayer's obligations to the government; they distinguish compliant taxpayers from non-compliant taxpayers. This paper argues that tax compliance in a self-assessment system should require the taxpayer …