Figuring Out the Tax
Figuring Out the Tax
$138.00
USDFiguring Out the Tax recounts the forgotten early development of the federal income tax in the US, resulting from the interplay between Congress and the Treasury Department in the decades following the enactment of the tax in 1913. It covers a wide range of topics including the income tax treatments of marriage, capital losses, charitable contributions and homeownership, as well as the rise, demise and resurrection of income tax withholding. Lawrence Zelenak deftly illustrates how the income tax achieved its current form through a range of stories which are new to tax history scholarship and involve some remarkable personalities and surprising plot twists. Although of particular interest to tax academics and professionals, this book will also serve as a useful introduction to the development of income tax for undergraduate students and law students.
- Recounts important developments in the early history of the income tax utilising new material which is not covered in existing tax history scholarship
- Adopts a chronological narrative approach, making for an entertaining read
- Does not assume any particular background in income tax law and will be accessible to a general readership with an interest in income tax
Reviews & endorsements
‘Who would have thought that a tax book can be so much fun?! Part tax history, part a comedy of errors, Zelenak's story about the emergence and development of the American tax system is a joy to read. It holds lessons for policymakers, offers ideas to academics, and helps taxpayers to form an informed opinion of what a good tax system should look like.' Alex Raskolnikov, Wilbur H. Friedman Professor of Tax Law, Columbia Law School
‘This book was an enjoyable and illuminating read. Zelenak covers such a wide array of tax topics that it can be said with confidence that this book has something for everyone to appreciate.’ Glen Loutzenhiser, British Tax Review
‘Figuring Out the Tax is well written, thoroughly researched, humorous, and (often) a page turner - the opposite of the general (even the college-educated general) public’s perception of writing about tax law and policy. Tax academics should recommend it to their family and friends as a way to let them in on what most of us already know - tax is fun.’ Jonathan D. Grossberg, The Journal of the American Taxation Association
Product details
April 2018Hardback
9781108421508
314 pages
235 × 157 × 18 mm
0.61kg
Available
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction: Cordell Hull writes the income Tax
- 2. The birth, death, and resurrection of income tax withholding
- Part I. Technical Problems Exposed by the High Tax Rates of World War I:
- 3. How the income tax became tax-inclusive
- Part II. Early Mistakes and the Persistence of Error:
- 4. The tax-free step-up in basis at death and the charitable deduction for unrealized appreciation: the early mistakes
- 5. The tax-free step-up in basis at death and the charitable deduction for unrealized appreciation: the failed reforms
- Part III. Congress Muddles Through:
- 6. Capital losses in the early income tax
- 7. A troubled relationship from the start: marriage and the income tax
- Part IV. Congress Goes Its Own Way:
- 8. The early income tax and the imputed rental income of homeowners
- 9. 'Blowing a kiss' at earned income
- Part V. Concluding Perspectives:
- 10. 'Answers to inquirers'
- 11. Is there a moral to the story?
