Paying a Fair Share Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-161
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2015-01-13
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Budget deficits and national debt

Employment taxes

Income tax deductions

Income tax rates

Inflation and prices

Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Tax reform and tax simplification
Latest action: action_date: 2015-01-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-01-13
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Paying a Fair Share Act of 2015</strong></p> <p> Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require an individual taxpayer whose adjusted gross income exceeds $1 million to pay a minimum tax rate of 30% of the excess of the taxpayer's adjusted gross income over the taxpayer's modified charitable contribution deduction for the taxable year (tentative fair share tax). Establishes the amount of such tax as the excess (if any) of the tentative fair share tax over the excess of: (1) the sum of the taxpayer's regular tax liability, the alternative minimum tax (AMT) amount, and the payroll tax for the taxable year; over (2) certain tax credits. Provides for a phase-in of such tax. Requires an inflation adjustment to the $1 million income threshold for taxable years beginning after 2016.</p> <p>Expresses the sense of the Senate that Congress should enact tax reform that repeals unfair and unnecessary tax loopholes and expenditures, simplifies the tax system, and makes sure that the wealthiest taxpayers pay a fair share of taxes.</p>

tv_txt: II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 161 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 13, 2015 Mr. Whitehouse (for himself, Ms. Baldwin , Mrs. Shaheen , Mr. Durbin , Mr. Reed , Mrs. McCaskill , Mr. Franken , Ms. Warren , Mr. Merkley , Mr. Leahy , Mr. Blumenthal , Mr. Sanders , Mrs. Boxer , Mr. Markey , Mr. Reid , Ms. Klobuchar , and Mr. Schatz ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To ensure high-income earners pay a fair share of Federal taxes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Paying a Fair Share Act of 2015 . 2. Fair share tax on high-income taxpayers (a) In general Subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new part: VII Fair share tax on high-income taxpayers Sec. 59A. Fair share tax. 59A. Fair share tax (a) General rule (1) Phase-in of tax In the case of any high-income taxpayer, there is hereby imposed for a taxable year (in addition to any other tax imposed by this subtitle) a tax equal to the product of— (A) the amount determined under paragraph (2), and (B) a fraction (not to exceed 1)— (i) the numerator of which is the excess of— (I) the taxpayer's adjusted gross income, over (II) the dollar amount in effect under subsection (c)(1), and (ii) the denominator of which is the dollar amount in effect under subsection (c)(1). (2) Amount of tax The amount of tax determined under this paragraph is an amount equal to the excess (if any) of— (A) the tentative fair share tax for the taxable year, over (B) the excess of— (i) the sum of— (I) the regular tax liability (as defined in section 26(b)) for the taxable year, determined without regard to any tax liability determined under this section, (II) the tax imposed by section 55 for the taxable year, plus (III) the payroll tax for the taxable year, over (ii) the credits allowable under part IV of subchapter A (other than sections 27(a), 31, and 34). (b) Tentative fair share tax For purposes of this section— (1) In general The tentative fair share tax for the taxable year is 30 percent of the excess of— (A) the adjusted gross income of the taxpayer, over (B) the modified charitable contribution deduction for the taxable year. (2) Modified charitable contribution deduction For purposes of paragraph (1)— (A) In general The modified charitable contribution deduction for any taxable year is an amount equal to the amount which bears the same ratio to the deduction allowable under section 170 (section 642(c) in the case of a trust or estate) for such taxable year as— (i) the amount of itemized deductions allowable under the regular tax (as defined in section 55) for such taxable year, determined after the application of section 68, bears to (ii) such amount, determined before the application of section 68. (B) Taxpayer must itemize In the case of any individual who does not elect to itemize deductions for the taxable year, the modified charitable contribution deduction shall be zero. (c) High-Income taxpayer For purposes of this section— (1) In general The term high-income taxpayer means, with respect to any taxable year, any taxpayer (other than a corporation) with an adjusted gross income for such taxable year in excess of $1,000,000 (50 percent of such amount in the case of a married individual who files a separate return). (2) Inflation adjustment (A) In general In the case of a taxable year beginning after 2016, the $1,000,000 amount under paragraph (1) shall be increased by an amount equal to— (i) such dollar amount, multiplied by (ii) the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year in which the taxable year begins, determined by substituting calendar year 2015 for calendar year 1992 in subparagraph (B) thereof. (B) Rounding If any amount as adjusted under subparagraph (A) is not a multiple of $10,000, such amount shall be rounded to the next lowest multiple of $10,000. (d) Payroll tax For purposes of this section, the payroll tax for any taxable year is an amount equal to the excess of— (1) the taxes imposed on the taxpayer under sections 1401, 1411, 3101, 3201, and 3211(a) (to the extent such tax is attributable to the rate of tax in effect under section 3101) with respect to such taxable year or wages or compensation received during such taxable year, over (2) the deduction allowable under section 164(f) for such taxable year. (e) Special rule for estates and trusts For purposes of this section, in the case of an estate or trust, adjusted gross income shall be computed in the manner described in section 67(e). (f) Not treated as tax imposed by this chapter for certain purposes The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax imposed by this chapter for purposes of determining the amount of any credit under this chapter (other than the credit allowed under section 27(a)) or for purposes of section 55. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of parts for subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new item: Part VII—Fair share tax on high-Income taxpayers . (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2015. 3. Sense of the Senate regarding tax reform It is the sense of the Senate that— (1) Congress should enact tax reform that repeals unfair and unnecessary tax loopholes and expenditures, simplifies the system for millions of taxpayers and businesses, and makes sure that the wealthiest taxpayers pay a fair share; and (2) this Act is an interim step that can be done quickly and serve as a floor on taxes for the highest-income taxpayers, cut the deficit by billions of dollars a year, and help encourage more fundamental reform of the tax system.