CEO Accountability and Responsibility Act

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to adjust the rate of income tax of a publicly traded corporation based on the ratio of compensation of the corporation’s highest paid employee to the median compensation of all the corporation’s employees. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the CEO Accountability and Responsibility Act 2. Income tax rate of publicly traded corporations based on compensation ratio (a) In general Section 11 (e) Tax rate of publicly traded corporations based on compensation ratio (1) In general In the case of a publicly traded corporation (as defined in section 162(m)(2)), in the amount of tax under subsection (b) shall be determined— (A) by adjusting the highest rate of tax applicable to the taxpayer by the percentage point adjustment specified in paragraph (2), and (B) by making proper adjustments to— (i) the dollar amount in clause (ii) of the second sentence of paragraph (1), and (ii) the dollar amount in clause (ii) of the third sentence of paragraph (1). (2) Adjustment of tax rate For purposes of paragraph (1), the percentage points specified in this paragraph shall be determined as follows: If the compensation ratio is: The percentage point adjustment is: Not more than 25 −1 percentage points More than 25 but not more than 50 −0.5 percentage points More than 50 but not more than 100 zero More than 100 but not more than 150 +0.5 percentage points More than 150 but not more than 200 +1 percentage points More than 200 but not more than 250 +1.5 percentage points More than 250 but not more than 300 +2 percentage points More than 300 but not more than 400 +2.5 percentage points More than 400 +3 percentage points. (3) Definitions For purposes of this subsection— (A) Compensation ratio The compensation ratio for a taxable year means a ratio— (i) the numerator of which is the amount equal to the greater of the compensation of the chief operating officer or the highest paid employee of the taxpayer for the calendar year preceding the beginning of the taxable year, and (ii) the denominator of which is the amount equal to the median compensation of all employees employed by the taxpayer in the United States for the calendar year preceding the beginning of the taxable year. (B) Compensation (i) Employees In the case of employees of the taxpayer other than the chief operating officer or the highest paid employee, the term compensation (ii) CEO and highest paid employee In the case of the chief operating officer and the highest paid employee of the taxpayer, the term compensation (4) Special rule if contracted or foreign employee ratio increases (A) In general If— (i) the total number of full-time employees, determined on an annual full-time equivalent basis, employed by the taxpayer in the United States for a taxable year is reduced by more than 10 percent, as compared to the total number of full-time employees, determined on an annual full-time equivalent basis, employed by the taxpayer in the United States for the preceding taxable year, and (ii) the total number of contracted employees or foreign full-time employees, determined on an annual full-time equivalent basis, of the taxpayer for that taxable year has increased, as compared with the total number of contracted employees or foreign full-time employees, determined on an annual full-time equivalent basis, of the taxpayer for the preceding taxable year, then the applicable tax rate determined under paragraph (2) shall be increased by 50 percent. For taxpayers who first commence doing business during the taxable year, the number of full-time employees, contracted employees, and foreign full-time employees for the immediately preceding prior taxable year shall be zero. (B) Definitions For purposes of this paragraph— (i) Annual full-time equivalent The term annual full-time equivalent (I) in the case of a full-time employee paid hourly qualified wages, the total number of hours worked for the taxpayer by the employee, not to exceed 2,000 hours per employee, divided by 2,000, and (II) in the case of a salaried full-time employee, the total number of weeks worked for the taxpayer by the employee divided by 52. (ii) Contracted full-time employee The term contracted full-time employee (iii) Foreign full-time employee The term foreign full-time employee (iv) Full-time employee The term full-time employee (I) is paid compensation by the taxpayer for services of not less than an average of 35 hours per week, or (II) is a salaried employee of the taxpayer and is paid compensation during the taxable year for full-time employment. (5) Controlled groups For purposes of this subsection, all persons treated as a single employer under subsection (b), (c), (m) or (o) of section 414 shall be treated as one person. (6) Reports The taxpayer shall furnish such reports to the Secretary with respect to compensation and such other matters as the Secretary may require. The reports required by this subsection shall be filed at such time and in such manner as may be required by the Secretary. (7) Regulations The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations and other guidance as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out this subsection, including any guidelines regarding the determination of wages, average compensation, and compensation ratio. . (b) Effective date The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Summary: CEO Accountability and Responsibility Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase the corporate income tax rate for publicly traded corporations that pay their chief executive officers or highest paid employees more than 100 times the median compensation of all their U.S. employees, and (2) decrease the rate for publicly traded corporations that pay their chief executive officers or highest paid employees less than 50 times the median compensation of all their U.S. employees.