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- 15 Dec 2020
- Working Paper Summaries
Designing, Not Checking, for Policy Robustness: An Example with Optimal Taxation
The approach used by most economists to check academic research results is flawed for policymaking and evaluation. The authors propose an alternative method for designing economic policy analyses that might be applied to a wide range of economic policies.
- 31 Aug 2020
- Research & Ideas
State and Local Governments Peer Into the Pandemic Abyss
State and local governments that rely heavily on sales tax revenue face an increasing financial burden absent federal aid, says Daniel Green. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 12 May 2020
Elusive Safety: The New Geography of Capital Flows and Risk
Examining motives and incentives behind the growing international flows of US-denominated securities, this study finds that dollar-denominated capital flows are increasingly intermediated by tax haven financial centers and nonbank financial institutions.
- 01 Apr 2019
- What Do You Think?
Does Our Bias Against Federal Deficits Need Rethinking?
SUMMING UP. Readers lined up to comment on James Heskett's question on whether federal deficit spending as supported by Modern Monetary Theory is good or evil. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 20 Mar 2019
In the Shadows? Informal Enterprise in Non-Democracies
With the informal economy representing a third of the GDP in an average Middle East and North African country, why do chronically indebted regimes tolerate such a large and untaxed shadow economy? Among this study’s findings, higher rates of public sector employment correlate with greater permissibility of firm informality.
- 30 Jan 2019
Understanding Different Approaches to Benefit-Based Taxation
Benefit-based taxation—where taxes align with benefits from state activities—enjoys popular support and an illustrious history, but scholars are confused over how it should work, and confusion breeds neglect. To clear up this confusion and demonstrate its appeal, we provide novel graphical explanations of the main approaches to it and show its general applicability.
- 02 Jul 2018
Corporate Tax Cuts Don't Increase Middle Class Incomes
New research by Ethan Rouen and colleagues suggests that corporate tax cuts contribute to income inequality. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 13 May 2018
Corporate Tax Cuts Increase Income Inequality
This paper examines corporate tax reform by estimating the causal effect of state corporate tax cuts on top income inequality. Results suggest that, while corporate tax cuts increase investment, the gains from this investment are concentrated on top earners, who may also exploit additional strategies to increase the share of total income that accrues to the top 1 percent.
- 08 Feb 2018
What’s Missing From the Debate About Trump’s Tax Plan
At the end of the day, tax policy is more about values than dollars. And it's still not too late to have a real discussion over the Trump tax plan, says Matthew Weinzierl. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 24 Oct 2017
Tax Reform is on the Front Burner Again. Here’s Why You Should Care
As debate begins around the Republican tax reform proposal, Mihir Desai and Matt Weinzierl discuss the first significant tax legislation in 30 years. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 08 Aug 2017
The Role of Taxes in the Disconnect Between Corporate Performance and Economic Growth
This paper offers evidence of potential issues with the current United States system of taxation on foreign corporate profits. A reduction in the US tax rate and the move to a territorial tax system from a worldwide system could better align economic growth with growth in corporate profits by encouraging firms to invest domestically and repatriate foreign earnings.
- 07 Nov 2016
Corporate Tax Strategies Mirror Personal Returns of Top Execs
Top executives who are inclined to reduce personal taxes might also benefit shareholders in their companies, concludes research by Gerardo Pérez Cavazos and Andreya M. Silva. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 18 Apr 2016
Popular Acceptance of Morally Arbitrary Luck and Widespread Support for Classical Benefit-Based Taxation
This paper presents survey evidence that the normative views of most Americans appear to include ambivalence toward the egalitarianism that has been so influential in contemporary political philosophy and implicitly adopted by modern optimal tax theory. Insofar as this finding is valid, optimal tax theorists ought to consider capturing this ambivalence in their work, as well.
- 20 Nov 2015
Impact Evaluation Methods in Public Economics: A Brief Introduction to Randomized Evaluations and Comparison with Other Methods
Dina Pomeranz examines the use by public agencies of rigorous impact evaluations to test the effectiveness of citizen efforts.
- 07 May 2014
How Should Wealth Be Redistributed?
SUMMING UP James Heskett's readers weigh in on Thomas Piketty and how wealth disparity is burdening society. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 08 Sep 2009
The Height Tax, and Other New Ways to Think about Taxation
The notion of levying higher taxes on tall people—an idea offered largely tongue in cheek—presents an ideal way to highlight the shortcomings of current tax policy and how to make it better. Harvard Business School professor Matthew C. Weinzierl looks at modern trends in taxation. Key concepts include: Studies show that each inch of height is associated with about a 2 percent higher wage among white males in the United States. If we as a society are uncomfortable taxing height, maybe we should reconsider our comfort level for taxing ability (as currently happens with the progressive income tax). For Weinzierl, the key to explaining the apparent disconnect between theory and intuition starts with the particular goal for tax policy assumed in the standard framework. That goal is to minimize the total sacrifice borne by those who pay taxes. Behind the scenes, important trends are evolving in tax policy. Value-added taxes, for example, are generally seen as efficient by tax economists, but such taxes can bear heavily on the poor if not balanced with other changes to the system. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 02 Mar 2007
What Is the Government’s Role in US Health Care?
Healthcare will grab ever more headlines in the U.S. in the coming months, says Jim Heskett. Any service that is on track to consume 40 percent of the gross national product of the world's largest economy by the year 2050 will be hard to ignore. But are we addressing healthcare cost issues with the creativity they deserve? What do you think? Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
TAX PLANNING CASE STUDY
Maximizing Tax Returns As An Integral Part Of Comprehensive Financial Planning
When engaging with new clients we have found that they are commonly missing substantial tax saving opportunities because their previous the tax preparer’s approach can be too simple.
Clearstead is able to review a client’s portfolio: drilling down and picking apart every aspect of a client’s finances to find ways to leverage and build income. As part of our process, Clearstead’s tax specialists look at prior tax returns to determine whether a more comprehensive planning and compliance plan could benefit a client. By untangling prior filings, Clearstead could identify undetected savings.
IN SOME CASES WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXCLUDE INCOME FROM TAXES IMPOSED BY THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. THIS CAN BE AN AREA WHERE PRIVATE EQUITY CLIENTS FREQUENTLY PAY SIGNIFICANT TAXES ON INCOME GENERATED FROM THEIR FIRMS.
By implementing filing strategies that minimize taxes, our clients can potentially keep more assets in their accounts and reduce the amount investments they have to sell to pay taxes. It’s an example of how our firm’s comprehensive, service-focused approach can benefit clients and captures opportunities that can go undetected when different financial planning functions – especially taxes – are outsourced.
Here’s a look at other hidden opportunities and ways our team’s efforts can benefit our clients:
Amended Tax Returns
Other hidden opportunities might include the small business stock capital gains exclusion. In these situations, a client might invest in a small C corporation, hold it for a period of time, and then sell the stock. The IRS code allows for exclusions of 50 to 100 percent of that gain depending on when it was bought and when it was sold. This type of analysis could create savings worth thousands of dollars by amending tax returns.
Income Deductions
Another frequently overlooked opportunity is the Ohio Business Income Deduction. In some situations, Clearstead has identified wage income that qualifies for the deduction but was not excluded in tax returns by the client’s previous accountant.
New Tax Code Deductions
With changes to the tax code enacted in December 2017, the Clearstead team is busy analyzing optimal positioning for clients, such as the 20 percent deduction for pass-through income. Already, Clearstead has identified opportunities under the increased estate tax exclusion to bring assets back into the estate and potentially give clients a stepped-up basis in assets and reduce unrealized capital gains. This strategy could save thousands of dollars in unnecessary tax payments.
We are also looking at itemized deductions that will be lost under the new tax code and creating strategies to help offset those losses.
Tax planning
While all CPAs will prepare quarterly tax estimates for clients, Clearstead prides itself on diving deeper into details. Throughout the year, we are analyzing data, talking to our clients, and working on ways to minimize tax payments. It is a continuous process, and the tax return is a byproduct of a yearlong analysis. But the only way to truly maximize these returns is to have a full understanding of the client’s financial portfolio, which is where Clearstead – and its clients – have realized their greatest success.
YOUR FUTURE IN FOCUS
At Clearstead, we create integrated, prudent, and custom strategies that bring clarity to you or your organization’s financial future.
Clearstead is an independent financial advisory firm serving wealthy families and leading institutions across the country. As a fiduciary, it provides wealth management services and investment consulting to help clients meet their financial objectives, achieve their aspirations, and build stronger futures.
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