The U.S. presidential election is just a week away, yet neither candidate has released a formal, detailed plan addressing his vision for the tax code. We can, however, gain a sense of how their approaches differ through casual mentions of some aspects of tax policy on the campaign trail.
Tax policy underpins business decisions and consumer behavior, so an understanding of the candidates’ more detailed vision for tax policy will be intrinsic to successfully navigating the economic downturn triggered by the pandemic. Savvy businesses and individuals should pay close attention to how any proposed policy may ultimately alter their total tax liability.
It’s also important to keep in mind the fundamental role of Congress in passing tax legislation. Depending on the makeup of the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives, passing tax legislation may be challenging. For example, if both the Senate and House are of the same party as the successful presidential candidate, any changes in tax law may still have to be passed through the budget reconciliation process, because 60 votes in the Senate generally would be needed to avoid using the reconciliation process (and it is very doubtful that there would be 60 members of the Senate of the same party). Both in 2017 and 2001, passing tax legislation through reconciliation meant that most of the changes were not permanent; that is, they expired within the 10-year budget window. If any of the White House, Senate, or House are of a majority party different than the others, the chances of passing and enacting any agreed-to tax legislation becomes more doubtful.
The following table contains side-by-side snapshots of current and potential future tax policies of the presidential candidates as of Oct. 19, 2020, from what has been mentioned informally on the campaign trail.
| Current Tax Law (TCJA–present) |
Biden’s stated goals | Trump’s stated goals | |
| Corporate tax rates and AMT |
Corporations have a flat 21% tax rate and no corporate alternative minimum tax (AMT), which were both changed by the TCJA. |
Biden would raise the flat rate to the pre-TCJA level of 28% and reinstate the corporate AMT on profits of $100 million or more. |
Trump has not announced changes and has no plans to reinstate a corporate AMT. |
|
Capital gains and dividends |
The top tax rate is 20% for income over $441,450 for individuals and $496,600 for married filing jointly. There is an additional 3.8% net investment income tax. |
Biden would eliminate breaks for long-term capital gains and dividends for income above $1 million. Instead, these would be taxed at ordinary rates. |
Trump would reduce the long-term capital gains tax rate to 15% from 20%, index capital gains for inflation and create a capital gains tax holiday that would eliminate capital gains taxes for a period of time TBD. |
|
Payroll taxes |
The 12.4% payroll tax is divided evenly between employers and employees and applies to the first $137,700 of an individual’s income. |
Biden would maintain the 12.4% tax split between employers and employees and keep the $137,700 cap but would institute the tax on earned income above $400,000. The gap between the two wage levels would gradually close with annual inflationary increases. |
Trump issued an executive order to temporarily postpone social security tax for employees from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31,2020. |
|
International taxes (GILTI, offshoring) |
GILTI (global intangible low-tax income): Established by the TCJA, U.S. multinationals are required to pay a foreign tax rate of between 10.5% and 13.125%. |
GILTI: Biden would double the tax rate to 21% and assess a minimum tax on a country-by-country basis. |
Trump has proposed but not provided details for a “Made in America” tax credit as well as tax credits for onshoring jobs. |
|
Estate taxes |
The estate tax exemption for 2020 is $11,580,000. Transfers of appreciated property at death get a step-up in basis. |
Biden would maintain the 2025 reversion and eliminate the current step-up in basis on inherited assets. |
Trump would push to extend the exemption and would not change the transfer of appreciated property step-up in basis. |
|
Individual tax rates |
The top marginal rate is 37% for income over $518,400 for individuals and $622,050 for married filing jointly. This was lowered from 39.6% pre-TCJA. |
Biden would restore the 39.6% rate for taxable income above $400,000. This represents only the top rate. |
Trump would keep the current status quo of 37%. In addition, he would enact a 10% rate cut for middle-class taxpayers, which would lower the 22% rate to 15%. |
|
Individual tax credits |
Currently, individuals can claim a maximum of $2,000 Child Tax Credit (CTC) plus a $500 dependent credit. |
Biden would expand the CTC to $3,000 for children age 17 and under and offer a $600 bonus for children age 6 and under. It would also be fully refundable. |
Trump would extend the $2,000 CTC past 2025; however, he would also require social security numbers to be eligible to take any of these credits. |
|
Education |
Forgiven student loan debt is included in taxable income. |
Biden would exclude forgiven student loan debt from taxable income. |
Trump would provide a tax credit for individual and corporate donations to state-authorized organizations that sponsor scholarships. |
|
Small businesses |
There are current tax credits for some of the costs to start a retirement plan. |
Biden would offer tax credits for businesses that adopt a retirement savings plan and offer most workers without a pension or 401(k) access to an “automatic 401(k)” |
Trump has not proposed a retirement savings plan tax credit. |
|
Itemized deductions |
For 2020, the standard deduction is $12,400 for single/married filing separately and $24,800 for married filing jointly. |
Biden would enact a provision that would cap the tax benefit of itemized deductions at 28%. |
Trump would extend the TCJA standard deductions beyond 2025 and make them permanent. |
|
Opportunity Zones |
Biden has proposed incentivizing OZ funds to partner with community organizations and have the Treasury Department review the program’s regulations of the tax incentives. He would also increase reporting and public disclosure requirements. |
Trump has said he will expand opportunity zones (unspecified). |
|
|
Alternative energy |
Biden would expand renewable energy tax credits and credits for residential energy efficiency, and restore the Energy Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and the Electric Vehicle Tax Credit. |
Trump would accelerate depreciation for renewable energy property as well as offer various investment tax credits (unspecified). |
While the candidates’ tax policy plans may not yet publicly formalized, more details may be released as we approach election day. We will be updating election tax policy content as it becomes available.
