Congressional Research Service Reports - 55 Matching Results

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A History of Federal Estate, Gift, and Generation-Skipping Taxes

Description: Three primary categories of legislation pertaining to transfer taxes have been introduced in the 110th Congress. As noted above, the repeal of the estate and generation-skipping taxes is not permanent. One category would make the repeal permanent. (See, H.R. 411 and H.R. 2380). Another category would accelerate the repeal of these transfer taxes. (See, H.R. 25, H.R. 1040, H.R. 1586, H.R. 4042, S. 1025, S. 1040, and S. 1081). The third would reinstate these taxes at lower rates and/or in a manne… more
Date: January 3, 2008
Creator: Luckey, John R.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Federal Estate, Gift, and Generation-Skipping Taxes: A Description of Current Law

Description: This report contains an explanation of the major provisions of the federal estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes. The discussion divides the federal estate tax into three components: the gross estate, deductions from the gross estate, and computation of the tax, including allowable tax credits. The federal estate tax is computed through a series of adjustments and modifications of a tax base known as the "gross estate." Certain allowable deductions reduce the gross estate to the … more
Date: January 5, 2008
Creator: Luckey, John R.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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An Introduction to the Design of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit

Description: This report discusses the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), which is a federal provision that reduces the income tax liability of taxpayers claiming the credit. These taxpayers are typically investors in real estate development projects that have traded cash for the tax credits to support the production of affordable housing. The credit is intended to lower the financing costs of housing developments so that the rental prices of units can be lower than market rates, and thus, presumably, a… more
Date: January 24, 2008
Creator: Jackson, Pamela J.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Adjustment of Civil Monetary Penalties for Inflation

Description: This report summarizes and discusses potential adjustments in civil monetary penalties. The report covers the history of both legislation and enforcement on this issue which is central to the deciding how to enforce civil monetary penalties. The report identifies three courses of action that include either maintaining the status quo, adjusting civil monetary penalty maximums through legislation, or implementing some of the recommendations in the General Accounting Office's (GAO) report.
Date: February 11, 2008
Creator: Copeland, Curtis W.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Estate Tax Legislation in the 110th Congress

Description: This report examines current legislation regarding estate taxes. Under provisions of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (EGTRRA, P.L. 107-16), the estate tax exclusion is scheduled to continue to rise, from $2 million for decedents dying in 2008, to $3.5 million in 2009. The estate tax is repealed for decedents dying in 2010 only.
Date: February 14, 2008
Creator: Noto, Nonna A.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Firms That Incorporate Abroad for Tax Purposes: Corporate ”Inversions” and ”Expatriation”

Description: This report provides information about Corporate “Inversions” and “Expatriation” on Firms That Incorporate Abroad for Tax Purposes which have altered their structure by substituting a foreign parent corporation for a domestic one.
Date: March 11, 2008
Creator: Marples, Donald J.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Taxes and Offshore Outsourcing

Description: This report discusses the impact of taxes on international trade and investment has been debated for decades. Most recently, a variety of bills addressing international taxation have been introduced in the 110th Congress—some would cut taxes for U.S. firms overseas, while others would increase taxes on foreign investment. The debate over taxes and foreign outsourcing has tended to grow more heated during times of domestic economic weakness and high unemployment; questions arise over whether ta… more
Date: March 11, 2008
Creator: Marples, Donald J.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Estate and Gift Taxes: Economic Issues

Description: The unified estate and gift tax is levied on the transfer of assets that occurs when someone dies or gives a gift. Filing an estate tax return can be difficult depending on the value and complexity of the estate. The purpose here is to outline the mechanics of the estate and gift tax. The first section begins with a brief review of the general rules accompanied with a numerical example. There are some minor provisions of the law that are not discussed here, however, such as the phase out of the… more
Date: March 19, 2008
Creator: Marples, Donald J. & Gravelle, Jane G.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Conservation Reserve Program Payments: Self-Employment Income, Rental Income, or Something Else?

Description: This report outlines the history of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), the changing positions of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), pertinent case law, and other provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). Several possible approaches to the taxation of CRP payments are discussed.
Date: April 14, 2008
Creator: Pettit, Carol A.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Tax Gap: Administration Proposal to Require Information Reporting on Merchant Payment Card Reimbursements

Description: The high current and forecast budget deficits as well as pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) procedures have resulted in congressional and executive branch interest in raising additional revenue through proposals for improved tax compliance. The Bush Administration’s FY2009 budget includes a proposal (the proposal) to require each payment card processor to inform the IRS on the net dollar amount paid to reimburse each merchant (i.e., seller) for his payment card receipts in a calendar year. Payment cards con… more
Date: April 28, 2008
Creator: Bickley, James M.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Additional Standard Tax Deduction for the Blind: A Description and Assessment

Description: This report covers the history, reasoning, and current policy that surrounds tax deductions for the blind. Moreover, the report highlights the current policy (as of May 7th 2008) as one that recognizes the higher cost of living for a blind person because many blind taxpayers have low incomes. However, the report points out that because of this many of them have access to an additional deduction for being in a lower income bracket.
Date: May 7, 2008
Creator: Jackson, Pamela J. & Teefy, Jennifer
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Additional Standard Tax Deduction for the Elderly: A Description and Assessment

Description: This report briefly summarizes the history, reasoning, and current tax deductions (as of May 7th 2008) for the elderly. The report suggests that the current tax deduction for both the elderly and the blind will result in the loss of 9 billion in tax revenue. Moreover, the report suggests that corrections could be made with alternative solutions.
Date: May 7, 2008
Creator: Jackson, Pamela J. & Teefy, Jennifer
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Calculating Estate Tax Liability: 2001 to 2011 and Beyond

Description: This report provides a basic explanation of how to calculate the federal estate tax liability for a taxable estate of any given size, using the schedule of graduated marginal tax rates and the applicable exclusion amount or the applicable credit amount for the year of death. The “applicable exclusion amount” is the amount of any decedent’s taxable estate that is free from tax. It is known informally as the estate tax “exemption.” The “applicable credit amount” or “unified credit” is the corresp… more
Date: May 7, 2008
Creator: Noto, Nonna A.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Lobbying Regulations on Non-Profit Organizations

Description: This report is intended to provide a brief overview of the various potential restrictions or regulations on lobbying activities of non-profit organizations. Public charities, social welfare organizations, religious groups, and other non-profit, tax-exempt organizations are not generally prohibited from engaging in all lobbying or public policy advocacy merely because of their tax-exempt status.
Date: May 7, 2008
Creator: Maskell, Jack H.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Coal Excise Tax Refunds: United States v. Clintwood Elkhorn Mining Co.

Description: In 1998, a U.S. district court held that the imposition of the coal excise tax, or black lung excise tax, on coal destined for export was unconstitutional. The process of refunding the tax has been controversial. This is because some coal producers and exporters have attempted to bypass the limitations in the Internal Revenue Code's refund scheme for bringing suit under the Export Clause in the Court of Federal Claims, seeking damages from the United States in the amount of coal excise taxes pa… more
Date: May 16, 2008
Creator: Lunder, Erika
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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