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Tax Implications Of Bailout And Elections

opinion Essay
1421 words
1421 words
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Tax Consequences of Economic Failures

June 13, 2007 is the day that Richard C. Cook claims in his article, “It’s Official: The Crash of the U.S. Economy Has Begun.” In the past couple of years, months, and weeks, the United States economy and stock market showed significant failures and inefficiencies to the world. Perhaps the greatest evidence signaling the recent economic meltdown is the subprime mortgage problems that started a little over a year ago. The burst of the U.S. housing market bubble was caused by a combination of risky lending and borrowing practices and higher interest rates coupled with dropping housing prices, making refinancing more difficult. To deepen the drama, Wall Street’s excessive debt and unsustainable practices became more and more transparent. There was and still is tremendous turmoil amongst the Wall Street mammoths and the drama is certainly no longer entertaining or cheap.

The tax consequences from these economic failures are difficult to measure. However, Washington Post’s Steven Pearlstein estimates that “falling stock prices will cause companies to reduce their hiring and capital spending while governments will be forced to raise taxes… as revenue from capital gains taxes decline.” Furthermore, “the combination of reduced wealth and higher interest rates will finally cause consumers to pull back on their debt-financed consumption.” Congress and the Bush administration passed an economic stimulus package on February 13, 2008 and the U.S. Federal Reserve cut interest rates in hopes to address and mitigate liquidity and credit problems. The stimulus package includes tax rebates to low- and middle- income U.S. taxpayers of $300 per person and $300 per dependent child under the age of 1...

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...ve further research and evaluations are needed to decide on which candidate really has the better tax plan for the United States as a whole.

Works Cited

"Economic Stimulus Act of 2008." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 13 Oct 2008, 00:09 UTC. 14 Oct 2008 .

"Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 12 Oct 2008, 00:33 UTC. 12 Oct 2008 .

“Liberty Tax Examines the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008/$700 Billion Bailout.” Liberty Tax Service. 13 Oct 2008. 13 Oct 2008.

“Obama and McCain Tax Proposals.” A.E. Feldman Blog. . 21 Aug 2008. 14 Oct 2008.

In this essay, the author

  • Analyzes how the subprime mortgage problems signaled the recent economic meltdown. the burst of the u.s. housing market bubble was caused by risky lending and borrowing practices and higher interest rates.
  • Explains that the tax consequences from these economic failures are difficult to measure. falling stock prices will cause companies to reduce their hiring and capital spending while governments will be forced to raise taxes.
  • Describes the emergency economic stabilization act as a much-needed economic boost to jump-start both confidence by protecting the financial system and getting credit flowing again.
  • Explains the extension of mortgage debt forgiveness relief to 2012: cancellation of debt will not be treated as taxable income and no taxies will be levied on discharges of up to $2 million (married filing jointly) and $1 million
  • Proposes extending alternative minimum tax relief to 2008: exemption amounts of $69,950 (married filing jointly) and $46,200 (single and head of household).
  • Explains that child tax credit refundable up to 15% of taxpayer's earned income in excess of $12,050 but the floor falls to $8,500.
  • Limits ceo compensation for banks and financial institutions participating in the bailout programs to a pre-set standard for executive pay; prohibit golden parachute payments from top 5 executives. compensation over $500,000 is not tax deductible.
  • Explains that deducting tuition and fees for qualified higher education expenses is extended until 2009. educator expenses are deductible up to $250/year despite itemized or standard deductions.
  • Explains that homeowners may deduct real-estate taxes as an additional standard deduction of up to $500.
  • Explains that liberty tax extends and modifies energy tax credits until 2016; no longer have $2000 limit on solar electric property.
  • Opines that the bailout was and still is necessary in our economy. the government handing over $700 billion dollars worth of cash that, although may be much needed in the economy, does not exist.
  • Explains that as senator barack obama and senator john mccain run the race, one of the key issues they must address is taxation.
  • Opines that obama should keep four lowest tax brackets, but restore 36% and 39.6% for income over $250,000.
  • Compares obama's plans for a 20-28% tax on all profit from home sales and dividends for two highest tax brackets and retain current rates for all other taxpayers.
  • Compares obama and mccain's proposals for inflation indexing and raising exemptions until they hit $143,000.
  • Opines that senator obama has better plans to implement, but this is biased and hopeful thinking. further research and evaluations are needed to decide which candidate really has the better tax plan for the united states as a whole.
  • Explains how the average tax bill could change in 2009 if either john mccain or barack obama's tax proposals were fully in place.
  • Explains the "emergency economic stabilization act of 2008" in wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
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