The House’s top tax writer has unveiled Republicans’ “Tax Reform 2.0” framework. The framework outlines three key focus areas:
- making permanent the individual and small business tax cuts enacted under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) ( P.L. 115-97);
- promoting family savings by streamlining retirement savings accounts and creating a new Universal Savings Account; and
- spurring business innovation by allowing new businesses to write off more initial start-up costs.
Tax Reform 2.0
The GOP’s tax reform “phase two” framework—otherwise known as “Tax Cuts 2.0″—was released earlier by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady, R-Texas. The outline is expected to be used for GOP “listening sessions” to be held among lawmakers. Brady has said that making the TCJA’s individual and small business tax cuts (enacted last December temporarily through 2025) permanent will be the “centerpiece” of the next tax reform package. Further, Brady told reporters that he anticipates Tax Reform 2.0 to move forward as three separate tax bills.
Corporate Tax Cuts
The Tax Reform 2.0 framework did not include a proposal to further reduce the corporate tax rate. President Trump has called for lowering the corporate tax rate to 20%. The corporate tax rate was lowered from 35% to 21% last December under the TCJA. Brady previously told reporters that House Republicans and the White House are continuing discussions on the idea.
Tax Reform 3.0, 4.0
“Tax Reform 2.0 is a new commitment to improve the tax code each and every year for American families and local businesses,” the framework says. Congress will examine the tax code each year to identify areas of needed improvement, according to the outline. Additionally, Brady has said he hopes to see a Tax Reform 3.0, 4.0, and so on.
Senate
At this time, the Tax Reform 2.0 package is not expected to clear the Senate in its entirety. It is thought on Capitol Hill that Democrats may support measures that focus on retirement and education savings and business innovation. However, several lawmakers view it as unlikely that Democrats would support a bill that makes the individual tax cuts under the TCJA permanent. Brady has reportedly said that extending TCJA’s individual provisions would increase the deficit by $600 billion over 10 years but would be offset, at least in part, by beneficial economic factors. Several Senate Democrats and Republicans have said they would not vote for extending or creating tax cuts that increase the federal deficit.
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