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Post-election federal tax legislative update
Denver – December 8, 2016
Page 1 Tax legislative and policy update
Disclaimer
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Page 2 Tax legislative and policy update
Today’s presenter
F. Michael Dell
Partner
Center for Tax Policy
Ernst & Young LLP
Page 3 Tax legislative and policy update
Agenda
Political and economic outlook1
Legislative and regulatory landscape2
US tax reform3
4 Global tax issues, risks and trends
Page 4 Tax legislative and policy update
2016 US elections overview*
House, 114th Congress House, 115th Congress
246/186 with 3 vacancies
► Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI)
► Democratic leader: Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
► Majority Leader: Kevin McCarthy (R-CA)
239/194with 2 undecided
► Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI)
► Democratic leader: Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
► Majority Leader: Kevin McCarthy (R-CA)
Senate, 114th Congress Senate, 115th Congress
54/46 with 2 Independents
► Majority Leader: Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
► Democratic Leader: Harry Reid (D-NV)
► Majority Whip: John Cornyn (R-TX)
51/48with 2 Independents,1 undecided
► Majority Leader: Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
► Democratic Leader: Charles Schumer (D-NY)
► Majority Whip: John Cornyn (R-TX)
Presidential
Electoral votes: 306 Trump/232 Clinton
Popular vote: 46.5% Trump/48.1% Clinton 62,352,375 / 64,429,062
*As of 9 am Eastern time, November 29, CNN
Page 5 Tax legislative and policy update
Trump’s ‘Contract with the American Voter’–priorities for first 100 days
► Middle Class Tax Relief And Simplification Act: tax reform
► End The Offshoring Act: tariffs to discourage corporate relocation
► American Energy & Infrastructure Act: public-private partnerships
and private investments = $1 trillion/10 years for infrastructure
► School Choice And Education Opportunity Act: elementary school
choice and college affordability
► Repeal and Replace Obamacare Act: Health Savings Accounts,
ability to purchase insurance across state lines
► Affordable Childcare and Eldercare Act: tax deductibility
► End Illegal Immigration Act: wall on Mexican border
► Restoring Community Safety Act: law enforcement resources
► Restoring National Security Act: eliminate defense sequester
► Clean up Corruption in Washington Act: ethics reforms
Page 6 Tax legislative and policy update
First major piece of legislation enacted by recent presidents after taking office
Barack Obama
Took office January 20, 2009
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
Enacted February 17, 2009
► Stimulus legislation, included bonus depreciation
George W. Bush
Took office January 20, 2001
Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001
Enacted June 7, 2001
► The “Bush tax cuts” reduced individual rates,
estate tax
Bill Clinton
Took office January 20, 1993
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993
Enacted August 10, 1993
► Increased individual, corporate taxes
George H. W. Bush
Took office January 20, 1989
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990
Enacted November 5, 1990
► Increased individual taxes despite “no new tax” pledge
Ronald Reagan
Took office January 20, 1981
Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981
Enacted August 13, 1981
► Sharply reduced individual, corporate taxes
Page 7 Tax legislative and policy update
House Ways and Means Committee
Republicans (24) Democrats (15)
► Kevin Brady (R-TX),
Chairman
► Sam Johnson (R-TX)
► Devin Nunes (R-CA)
► Pat Tiberi (R-OH)
► Dave Reichert (R-WA)
► Charles. Boustany, Jr. (R-
LA)*
► Peter Roskam (R-IL)
► Tom Price (R-GA)
► Vern Buchanan (R-FL)
► Adrian Smith (R-NE)
► Lynn Jenkins (R-KS)
► Erik Paulsen (R-MN)
*ran for US Senate
**defeated
► Kenny Marchant (R-TX)
► Diane Black (R-TN)
► Tom Reed (R-NY)
► Mike Kelly (R-PA)
► Todd Young (R-IN)*
► Jim Renacci (R-OH)
► Kristi Noem (R-SD)
► Pat Meehan (R-PA)
► George Holding (R-NC)
► Jason Smith (R-MO)
► Robert Dold (R-IL)**
► Tom Rice (R-SC)
► Richard Neal (D-MA)
► Sander Levin (D-MI)
► Charles Rangel (D-NY) retired
► Jim McDermott (D-WA) retired
► John Lewis (D-GA)
► Xavier Becerra (D-CA)
► Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)
► Mike Thompson (D-CA)
► John Larson (D-CT)
► Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)
► Ron Kind (D-WI)
► Bill Pascrell (D-NJ)
► Joseph Crowley (D-NY)
► Danny Davis (D-IL)
► Linda Sanchez (D-CA)
Page 8 Tax legislative and policy update
Senate Finance Committee
Republicans (14) Democrats (12)
► Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT) 2018
► Chuck Grassley (R-IA) 2016
► Mike Crapo (R-ID) 2016
► Pat Roberts (R-KS)
► Mike Enzi (R-WY)
► John Cornyn (R-TX)
► John Thune (R-SD) 2016
► Richard Burr (R-NC) 2016
► Johnny Isakson (R-GA) 2016
► Rob Portman (R-OH) 2016
► Pat Toomey (R-PA) 2016
► Dan Coats (R-IN)
► Dean Heller (R-NV) 2018
► Tim Scott (R-SC) 2016
► Ron Wyden (D-OR) 2016
► Chuck Schumer (D-NY) 2016
► Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) 2018
► Maria Cantwell (D-WA) 2018
► Bill Nelson (D-FL) 2018
► Robert Menendez (D-NJ) 2018
► Thomas Carper (D-DE) 2018
► Ben Cardin (D-MD) 2018
► Sherrod Brown (D-OH) 2018
► Michael Bennet (D-CO) 2016
► Bob Casey (D-PA) 2018
► Mark Warner (D-VA)
2016 = re-elected on November 8
2018 = up for re-election in 2018
Page 9 Tax legislative and policy update
2018 Senate elections
Seats up for re-election: 23 Democratic plus 2 Independents, 8 Republican
T = Running in state Donald Trump won in 2016
Democrats Republicans
Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) T
Sherrod Brown (D-OH) T
Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
Ben Cardin (D-MD)
Tom Carper (D-DE)
Bob Casey (D-PA) T
Joe Donnelly (D-IN) T
Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Martin Heinrich (D-NM)
Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) T
Mazie Hirono (D-HI)
Tim Kaine (D-VA)
Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Joe Manchin (D-WV) T
Claire McCaskill (D-MO) T
Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
Chris Murphy (D-CT)
Bill Nelson (D-FL) T
Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) T
Jon Tester (D-MT) T
Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
+2 Independents that caucus with
Democrats:
Angus King (I-ME)
Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
John Barasso (R-WY)
Bob Corker (R-TN)
Ted Cruz (R-TX)
Deb Fischer (R-NE)
Jeff Flake (R-AZ)
Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
Dean Heller (R-NV)
Roger Wicker (R-MS)
Page 10 Tax legislative and policy update
US economic update – GDP and job growth continue► Gross domestic product (GDP) increased at a 3.2% annualized rate in
Q3 2016, more than double the 1.4% annualized growth rate for Q2
2016
► Gross private domestic investment rose by a 3.1% annualized rate in Q3
► Federal government spending rose by a 2.5% annualized rate in Q3
► On an annual basis, GDP increased by 2.4% in 2014 and 2.6% in 2015
► The Federal Reserve Board left the federal funds rate target range of
0.25% to 0.5% unchanged during its November 1-2 meeting
► Latest Blue Chip forecast (November 2016):
► 1.5% GDP growth in 2016 followed by 2.2% growth in 2017 expected
► Unemployment rate expected to average 4.9% in 2016 and decline to
4.7% in 2017
► Employment increased by 178,000 jobs in November, up from
142,000 in October
► The unemployment rate dropped to 4.6% from 4.9%
Page 11 Tax legislative and policy update
Economic forecasts through 2017
Note: Figures are averages of selected economic forecasts. Figures shaded in yellow are forecasts.
Source: Blue Chip Economic Indicators. Vol. 41, No. 11, November 7, 2016.
Key macroeconomic measures 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Percent change, full-year over prior-year:
Real GDP 1.5 2.4 2.6 1.5 2.2
Average:
Unemployment rate 7.4 6.2 5.3 4.9 4.7
Consumer Price Index 1.5 1.6 0.1 1.3 2.3
Treasury bills 3-month rate 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.3 0.8
Treasury notes 10-year rate 2.4 2.5 2.2 1.7 2.1
Page 12 Tax legislative and policy update
While the rates of unemployment hold steady, the underemployment “gap” remains elevated
Note: The U-6 measure of underemployment includes: 1) total unemployed, 2) “marginally attached workers” (individuals not in the labor force
who wanted and were available for work), and 3) workers employed part-time for economic reasons. Figures shown are seasonally adjusted.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics: Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey, November 4, 2016.
The spread between the official unemployment rate and the U-6 rate was 4.6 percentage
points in October 2016, up from 3.7 percentage points in October 2007
Official unemployment rate, 4.9%
"U-6" unemployment rate, 9.5%
0.0%
2.0%
4.0%
6.0%
8.0%
10.0%
12.0%
14.0%
16.0%
18.0%
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Page 13 Tax legislative and policy update
Labor force participation rate remains historically low
Note: The labor force participation rate is the number of persons in the labor force as a percent of the civilian non-institutional population,
which includes retired persons. The labor force includes persons who are employed and persons who are unemployed but available for and
looking for work sometime during the four-week period preceding the survey. Data are available from as early as 1948.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics: Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey, November 4, 2016.
The labor force participation rate declined from 66.7% in October 2001 to 62.8% in October
2016, as growth in the overall population outpaced growth in the labor force
October 2016, 62.8%
Average since 1948, 62.9%
Average since 1980, 65.5%
60.0%
61.0%
62.0%
63.0%
64.0%
65.0%
66.0%
67.0%
68.0%
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Page 14 Tax legislative and policy update
Sources and uses of federal revenues, FY2016
Total: $3.85t
Note: “Other” revenue includes Federal Reserve earnings, customs duties, estate and gift taxes, and other miscellaneous receipts. “Other entitlements” include commerce and
housing credit, education, training, employment, social services, and veterans benefits and services. “Nondefense discretionary” includes international affairs, general science, space
and technology, energy, natural resources and environment, agriculture, transportation, community and regional development, administration of justice, general government and
undistributed offsetting receipts. Income security includes items such as food stamps, public housing and non-veteran pensions.
Figures do not total to 100% due to rounding.
Source: US Department of Treasury, Monthly Treasury Statement, September 2016
Individual income taxes,
47.3%
Social Security, 34.1%
Corporate income taxes,
9.2%
Excise taxes, 2.9%
Other, 6.5%
Social Security, 23.8%
Medicare and health,
28.7%
Defense, 15.4%
Income security, 13.4%
Nondefense discretionary,
6.0%
Other entitlements,
6.5%
Net interest, 6.2%
Revenues Expenditures
Total: $3.27t
Page 15 Tax legislative and policy update
Federal revenue trendsPercentage of GDP
Note: “Other” includes excise taxes, estate and gift taxes, customs duties and miscellaneous receipts. The 2016 data are projections.
Source: Congressional Budget Office, Updated budget projections: 2016 to 2026, March 2016
8.8%
6.0%
1.8%
0
2
4
6
8
10
1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015
Individual income taxes Payroll taxes Corporate income taxes Other
Page 16 Tax legislative and policy update
Agenda
Political and economic outlook1
Legislative and regulatory landscape2
US tax reform3
4 Global tax issues, risks and trends
Page 17
Congressional timeline, agenda for 2016-2017
Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct
December 9 -
Government
funding expires
December 31 –
39 tax provisions
expire
March 15 -
Federal debt limit
reinstated
September 30, 2017 -
FAA funding, authorization
expire
2016 lame-duck session to include:
► New member orientation, leadership elections
► “Must-do” legislation, such as extending government funding
January 4 -
Expected swearing
in of 115th Congress
January 20 -
Presidential
inauguration
Late February –President
to address joint session of
Congress
November 14 -
Lame duck
session begins
Tax policy and legislative update
Page 18
Priorities for lame-duck session
► Omnibus appropriations, “mini”-buses, or continuing resolution
► Extending government funding into early 2017
► Water Resources Development Act, Flint aid package
► 21st Century Cures legislation
► Funds medical research and speeds drug approvals
► Miners Protection, Retirement Enhancement/Savings Acts
► Assures payment of health benefits, pension solvency for miners
► Bipartisan proposals to expand retirement savings
► Tax items: extenders, technical corrections, miscellaneous bills
Tax policy and legislative update
Page 19
‘Must-do’ 2017 legislative agenda items
► Government funding: budget and appropriations for FY
2018► Federal debt limit: current suspension ends March 15,
2017
► Supreme Court nomination and other Administration appointments
► Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization
► Children’s Health Insurance Program reauthorization
Tax policy and legislative update
Page 20 Tax legislative and policy update
Regulatory
reform
Infrastructure
ACA repeal
Tax reform
Trump/Republican priorities for 2017
Energy
► All-GOP control opens door for comprehensive tax reform
► Trump, House GOP have similar proposals on rates
► Different approaches to international taxation
► Senate likely to use reconciliation process to pass repeal
► Ryan plan keeps parts of Affordable Care Act (ACA)
► Trump could strike some parts of ACA without Congress
► Trump wants public-private partnerships, private investments
► Election outcome takes focus off repatriation as funding
► Democrats also interested in increased investment
► Trump could roll back some Obama regulations
► Fiduciary rule, Dodd-Frank elements among targets
► House GOP Better Way effort also targeted regulatory reform
► Trump to cancel Obama energy rules, e.g., on power plants
► Favorable treatment expected for coal, oil, natural gas
► Trump denies climate change, wants US out of Paris deal
Page 21
Budget reconciliation may come into play
► Republicans don’t have filibuster-proof 60 Senate votes
► Reconciliation allows simple-majority vote for spending,
revenue or debt limit bills (or a combination)
► Possible use for ACA repeal, tax reform, etc.
► Two-step process
► 1. House and Senate would need to pass a concurrent Budget
Resolution with reconciliation instructions
► Provides directions to committees to change the spending or revenue
numbers
► 2. Need to pass “reconciliation” bills that adhere to the instructions
► Carries with it restrictions on provisions that would increase the
deficit beyond the budget timeframe (usually 10 years)
► This means reconciliation could only be used to repeal certain
provisions of the ACA
Tax policy and legislative update
Page 22
Revisiting health care reform
► President-elect Trump and Republicans remain opposed
to the ACA
► Trump has vowed to “repeal and replace” the law soon after taking
office
► Complexities and procedural hurdles make unwinding the law
difficult
► Republicans unlikely to get 60 votes to repeal; would have to use
“reconciliation” process
► Alternative might be to work on changes that might garner bipartisan
support
► Modification of some fees
► Changes to health insurance exchanges
Tax policy and legislative update
Page 23
Trade issues
► Trade was a significant election issue
► Unlikely Congress will ratify the Trans-Pacific Partnership
(TPP)
► Trump has suggested he might revisit North American
Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
► Trump position on China’s currency and his pledge to
build a wall on the US-Mexico border may have trade
repercussions
Tax policy and legislative update
Page 24 Tax legislative and policy update
Regulatory activity: treatment of related-party corporate interests
► Final and temporary related-party debt-equity regulations
under Section 385 were released October 13, 2016
► Proposed regulations released April 4, 2016
► Documentation Rule generally applies to debt instruments
issued on or after January 1, 2018
► Recharacterization Rules generally apply to debt
instruments issued on or after April 5, 2016; a transition
rule generally exempts debt settled within 90 days of the
publication of the final regulations
Page 25 Tax legislative and policy update
What changed in the final and temporary Section 385 regulations
► New/expanded exemptions and exclusions (e.g., first $50 million of recast debt, compensatory stock, post-April 4, 2016 E&P)
► Exclusion for certain regulated industries
► Numerous exemptions and exclusions (e.g., qualified short-term debt instruments, certain acquisitions of subsidiary stock)
► Exclusion for certain regulated industries
► Documentation due on return filing date
► Disregarded entity (DRE) debt recast into equity of regarded owner
► Exclusion of debt issued by partnership
► Master agreements blessed
► Annual debt capacity study allowed
► Reservation on no affirmative use
► Eliminated
Apply to interests issued by domestic
corporations
Exclude (reserve on) interests issued by
foreign corporations
Exclude interests issued by
non-captive real estate investment
trusts and regulated investment companies
Do not apply to instruments issued
within US consolidated group
Documentation RuleProp. Reg. §1.385-2
Transaction Recharacterization Rule
Prop. Reg. §1.385-3(b)(2)
Bifurcation RuleProp. Reg. §1.385-1(d)
Funding Recharacterization Rule
Prop. Reg. §1.385-3(b)(3)
Page 26 Tax legislative and policy update
Key state income tax questions surrounding Section 385 regulations
► Will the states conform to the final and temporary
regulations?
► The documentation consolidated group exclusion in Reg.
Section 1.385-2(d)(2)(ii)(A)?
► The recharacterization consolidated group exception in Temp.
Reg. Section 1.385-4T(b)(1)?
► Will the states have powers independent of the IRS to
police these rules?
► Can states make debt-equity determinations that are
different from those made by the IRS?
Page 27 Tax legislative and policy update
Agenda
Political and economic outlook1
Legislative and regulatory landscape2
US tax reform3
4 Global tax issues, risks and trends
Page 28 Tax legislative and policy update
Major drivers of US tax reform
► High corporate tax rate and complex system puts US companies at a
competitive disadvantage
► Patent box regimes in other countries lure intellectual property (IP) income
and R&D jobs from the United States
► European Union (EU) State aid investigations have been criticized for
appearing to target US multinationals
High statutory
corporate tax
rate (35%)
Worldwide
system of
taxing foreign
earnings
Less
competitive US
tax system
relative to other
developed
nations
Page 29
Tax reform: 2016 developments to date
► Republican Blueprint for tax reform
► Reduced individual tax rates
► Corporate income tax replaced with 20% cash-flow tax
► 25% business income tax for pass-through entities
► Territorial system of taxing future foreign earnings
► Mandatory tax on accumulated foreign earnings
► Destination-basis tax system that exempts exports while taxing imports
House
Senate
► Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
► Readying corporate integration proposal to eliminate double taxation of corporate
income
► Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
► Favors comprehensive tax reform
► Incoming Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
► Supports international tax reform to fund infrastructure spending
Trump
► Trump
► 15% business income rate, 15% pass-through rate
► Elective expensing for manufacturers with loss of interest expense deduction
► Elimination of most business provisions, except for R&D Credit
► Individual: 12%, 25% and 33% rates; deductions capped at $100,000/$200,000
Tax policy and legislative update
Page 30 Tax legislative and policy update
Improved political environment for comprehensive tax reform
► Both Trump and Republican congressional leaders have
said tax reform is an early priority
► Trump says he will act on tax reform in first 100 days
► Revenue-losing comprehensive tax reform possible via
reconciliation rules
► Would allow Senate to advance a bill without 60 votes
► Trump and congressional Republican plans are not
identical but have enough overlap for compromise
► Similar interest in lower rates for individuals and corporations, including
pass-through entities
► House GOP plan moves toward cash-flow consumption tax, border
adjustability
► Trump plan might repeal deferral without switch to territorial system
Page 31 Tax legislative and policy update
Tax reform key focus: economic growth
► For GOP lawmakers, growth is a key goal of reform
► Must include provisions that will increase demand for goods and
services and increase the return to capital investment
► Growth will be “scored”
► Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) now uses dynamic revenue
models; producing positive revenue scores depends on tax reform
design
► House rules now require dynamic revenue estimating
► Pro-growth proposals:
► Reducing individual and corporate tax rates
► Allowing 100% expensing of investments in tangible, intangible
assets
Page 32 Tax legislative and policy update
Comparison of Trump, House GOP Blueprint tax reform plansProposal Trump House GOP
Top corporate tax rate (now 35%) 15%, corporate alternative minimum tax (AMT) eliminated 20%, corporate AMT eliminated
Top pass-through rate (now 39.6%)15% rate for pass-through entities that retain profits within
the business25%
Taxation of future foreign earnings In 2015, proposed worldwide system, repeal of deferral;
currently unclear
Territorial; 100% exemption for dividends paid from
foreign subs.; border adjustment
Mandatory tax, untaxed accumulated foreign earnings 10%8.75% for cash/cash equivalents, 3.5% otherwise,
payable over 8 years
Cost recovery Expensing for manufacturers 100% expensing: tangible, intangible assets
Interest Manufacturers electing to expense capital investment lose
the deductibility of corporate interest expense
No current deduction will be allowed for net interest
expense
Other business provisionsCalls for them to generally be eliminated, except for R&D
credit
Calls for them to generally be eliminated, except for R&D
credit and LIFO
Individual rates (now 10%, 15%, 25%, 28%, 33%, 35%,
39.6%)12%, 25%, 33% 12%, 25%, 33%
Capital gains and dividendsCurrent law (max. rate of 20%), 3.8% Net Investment
Income Tax (NIIT) repealed
50% deduction for capital gains, dividends and interest,
leading to basic rates of 6%, 12.5% and 16.5%
Carried interest Ordinary income (Not addressed)
Estate tax (now 40% rate, $5.45 million exemption)Repealed, capital gains held until death taxable, first $10
million tax-freeRepealed
State tax deduction Cap itemized deductions at $100,000 for single filers and
$200,000 for couples Eliminated
Charitable contribution deduction See above Retained, but could be modified
Mortgage interest deduction See above Retained, but could be modified
Personal Exemption Phase-out (PEP), Pease deduction
limitationUnspecified “steepening the curve” of PEP and Pease (Not addressed)
Life insurance build-up Included in income for high earners (Not addressed)
Page 33 Tax legislative and policy update
House GOP Tax Reform Blueprint: border adjustments
► Would move to a destination-basis tax system, under which
border adjustments (BAs) exempt exports from tax while taxing
imports
► Key questions include:
► Are the BAs under the House Blueprint compliant with the World Trade
Organization (WTO)?
► Would the BAs have any long-term impact on trade or be offset by
changes in countries’ real price levels/exchange rates, a view held by
economists but met with skepticism by the business community?
► Would the BAs involve a wealth transfer from the United States to other
countries?
► What impact would allowing BAs under a direct tax have, since it differs
from the indirect tax form of most other countries’ value-added taxes
(VATs)?
Page 34 Tax legislative and policy update
Estimated change in tax liability from House GOP Blueprint’s border adjustments, select industries
$60 | 1%
$29 | 3%
$28 | 18%
$27 | 4%
$12 | 1%
$9 | 1%
-$3 | *
-$3 | *
-$6 | 5%
-$7 | 12%
-$17 | 4%
-$26 | 9%
Miscellaneous services
Information & utilities
Motor vehicles
Other nondurable goods mfg
Retail & wholesale trade
Ag, construction & mining
Professional services
Other durable goods mfg
Other transportation equipment
Electrical equipment & components
Chemical products
Computers & electronics
Tax change ($B) | Taxes as a share of industry GDP
*Change in tax liability as a share of GDP is less than 0.5%.
Source: US Census Bureau’s USA Trade; US Bureau of Economic Analysis; Ernst & Young LLP analysis.
Page 35 Tax legislative and policy update
Interest deductibility
► Some recent tax proposals would eliminate interest
expense deductibility for most non-financial businesses
► House GOP Blueprint would deny deduction for net interest
expense
► Proposal modeled on H.R. 4377, introduced in January 2016 by
House Ways and Means Committee member Devin Nunes (R-CA)
► Financial services companies generally exempted
► Immediate expensing of business investment seen as “a more
beneficial and more neutral substitute” for deductibility of interest
expense, according to House GOP Blueprint
► May resurface in next Congress as part of tax reform
proposals
Page 36 Tax legislative and policy update
Tax treatment of carried interest
► President-elect Trump, Secretary Clinton and President
Obama have supported changing the treatment of carried
interest
► Under current law, income or gains from carried interests can be
taxed at capital gains rates (currently 15%)
► Limited partners do not pay self-employment tax on income from
carried interests
► Under several recent proposals, income or gains from carried
interests would generally be taxed at ordinary income rates
► Individual partners would pay self-employment tax on recharacterized
carried interest income
► A carried interest proposal in President Obama’s FY2017
budget would have raised revenue by $19.6 billion over
10 years (Joint Committee on Taxation)
Page 37 Tax legislative and policy update
Corporate tax integration in Congress
► Finance Chairman Hatch crafting corporate integration bill
► Attempt to reduce or eliminate double taxation through establishment of a corporate
DPD without statutory reduction in corporate rate
► International tax regime likely would be unchanged
► Corporation would withhold tax on gross amount of dividends paid to
all shareholders
► Withheld amount would be a “nonrefundable credit” for the shareholder
► 20% preferential rate for qualified dividends would be repealed
► Corporation would be required to withhold tax, at same rate, on the gross amount
of interest paid to creditors
► Policy rationale
► Address debt/equity imbalance
► Unlock “trapped” offshore earnings
► Attack earnings stripping
► Close gap with pass-throughs
Page 38 Tax legislative and policy update
Corporate tax integration – possible methods
Method How it works
Shareholder credit for
corporate tax paid
(imputation credit)
Shareholders include dividend payments in income and
receive a tax credit equal to the corporate-level tax allocable
to the dividend
Shareholder exclusion of
dividends (dividend
exclusion)
Shareholders exclude dividends taxed at the corporate level
from their taxable income. The tax treatment of interest is
unchanged
Comprehensive business
income tax (CBIT)
Shareholders exclude dividends taxed at the corporate level
from their taxable income. The deduction for interest expense
is disallowed, and interest income is excluded from the
taxable income of debt holders (i.e., interest is removed from
the income tax base)
Dividends-paid deduction
(DPD)
Corporations can deduct dividends paid to shareholders, and
shareholders include dividends in gross income subject to
ordinary income tax rates
Page 39 Tax legislative and policy update
What federal tax reform may mean for state tax purposes
► Will state conform to any federal tax law changes?
► It depends ...
► States use the Internal Revenue Code as the starting point for
determining state taxable income
► If the Code changes (e.g., base expansion, elimination of deductions,
modifications of credits), the state tax base may change as well
► Conformity dates
► Static (e.g., California, Texas, New Hampshire) = not automatic
► Rolling (e.g., Florida, Illinois, New York) = automatic
► States generally don’t conform to rate reductions
► All states except Vermont must have a balanced budget and must
address the cost of conforming to the federal changes
Page 40 Tax legislative and policy update
Agenda
Political and economic outlook1
Legislative and regulatory landscape2
US tax reform3
4 Global tax issues, risks and trends
Page 41 Tax legislative and policy update
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
Un
ite
d A
rab E
mira
tes
Taiw
an
Pola
nd
Saud
i A
rabia
Turk
ey
Ru
ssia
Un
ite
d K
ing
dom
Sw
itzerl
and
Sw
ede
n
Kore
a
Isla
mic
Repu
blic
of Ir
an
Austr
ia
Ne
therl
and
s
Indon
esia
Ch
ina
Ca
nad
a
No
rwa
y
Ita
ly
Spain
Me
xic
o
Austr
alia
Nig
eri
a
Germ
any
Japa
n
Belg
ium
Bra
zil
Fra
nce
India
Arg
entina
Un
ite
d S
tate
s
Tax r
ate
Corporate tax rates in the top 30 economies by GDP, 2015
Note: Includes both national and subnational statutory corporate tax rates.
Source: Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), EY Worldwide Corporate Tax Guide. GDP weighting reflects
2015 GDP estimates from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
GDP-weighted average (excluding US) – 27.1%
Simple average (excluding
US) – 25.6%
Page 42 Tax legislative and policy update
Global focus intensifying on companies’ taxes
► Economic and revenue needs driving tax policy
► Increasing focus on compliance and enforcement,
information sharing, transparency, analysis of company
data
► Taxpayers facing greater tax and reputational risk:
► Globally: Political and economic volatility resulting from “Brexit,”
“State aid” investigations, new or strengthened anti-avoidance
rules, data leaks
► OECD BEPS project: continuing implementation at country level
► United States: scrutiny of tax dealings, including mergers and
overseas reincorporations (inversions), regulatory activity, calls for
tax reform
Page 43 Tax legislative and policy update
OECD multilateral instrument to modify bilateral tax treaties
► Released Nov. 24 and adopted by approximately 100
countries
► Part of the OECD’s effort to incorporate BEPS measures related to
tax treaties into existing bilateral or regional tax treaties quickly
and consistently
► Will implement minimum standards to counter treaty abuse and
improve dispute resolution mechanisms
► Will allow governments to strengthen their tax treaties with other
measures developed through the BEPS project
► Will be open for signature as of Dec. 31, and will enter into force
after five countries have ratified it
► Signing ceremony to be held in June 2017
Page 44 Tax legislative and policy update
EU Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive (ATAD)
► Lays down rules to strengthen the average level of protection against
aggressive tax planning in the internal market
► Objective is to ensure a coordinated implementation of certain BEPS outputs at the
EU level
► The European Commission published the first draft of the ATAD
January 8 as part of its wider EU Anti-Tax Avoidance Package
► Agreement on a final Directive was reached June 20
► Member States must adopt and publish the laws, regulations and administrative
provisions necessary to comply with this directive by December 31, 2018
► An additional year is provided for the implementation of the exit tax provisions
(December 31, 2019)
► Member States that have (equally effective) national targeted rules for preventing
base erosion and profit shifting risks may defer implementation of the ATAD interest
limitation rules, but not until later than January 1, 2024
Page 45 Tax legislative and policy update
EU tax reform proposal
► On October 25, the EC released its proposals for a major
corporate tax reform across the EU
► Includes three separate legislative initiatives:
► (i) A two-stage proposal towards a Common Consolidated
Corporate Tax Base (CCCTB)
► (ii) A directive on double taxation dispute resolution mechanisms in
the EU
► (iii) Amendments to the ATAD agreed in June 2016, as regards
hybrid mismatches with non-EU countries
Page 46 Tax legislative and policy update
EC proposes public country-by-country (CbC) reporting
► Proposal released April 12 would require companies with annual revenue greater than
€750m to report yearly (on the company’s website and via an official EU register):
► Nature of activities
► Number of employees
► Net turnover
► Profit before tax
► Income tax due in the country and amount of tax paid
► Accumulated earnings
► Reporting is required on country-by-country basis within the EU and for certain (as yet
unidentified) tax haven jurisdictions
► Companies would also provide aggregate figures reporting total taxes paid outside EU
► Rules would apply to EU and non-EU multinational enterprises (MNEs) doing business
in Europe
► The proposal is a change to an accounting directive; thus, it can become law with
support of a qualified majority (in practice, 16 of the 28 Member States)
Page 47 Tax legislative and policy update
Appendix
Page 48 Tax legislative and policy update
Annual federal budget deficit 2015-2026
Total deficit 2016-2026 = $9.6 trillion
Source: Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Updated Budget Projections 2016 to 2026, August 26, 2016.
$438 B
$590 B $594 B
$520 B
$625 B
$714 B
$806 B
$954 B$988 B $1,000 B
$1,128 B
$1,243 B
$0B
$200B
$400B
$600B
$800B
$1,000B
$1,200B
$1,400B
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
Billio
ns o
f n
om
inal
US
do
llars
Page 49 Tax legislative and policy update
Spending, interest continue to grow as percent of GDP, while revenue remains flat
Note: Projections for the years 2016 to 2026 are from the CBO’s Updated Budget Projections 2016 to 2026, August 26, 2016. Projections from 2026 to 2040 use
Ernst & Young LLP calculations applied to CBO data from The 2016 Long-Term Budget Outlook, July 12, 2016.
Source: CBO, The 2016 Long-Term Budget Outlook, July 12, 2016, and Updated Budget Projections 2016 to 2026, August 26, 2016
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
1975 1985 1995 2005 2015 2025 2040
Net interest
Discretionary and other mandatoryspending
Major health care programs
Social Security
Revenue
Page 50 Tax legislative and policy update
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
1960 1975 1990 2005 2020 2035
Pe
rce
nt
of
GD
P
Deficit
Surplus
Deficit
Surplus
Long-term US fiscal outlook is a major driver for policy
Note: Projections for the years 2016 to 2026 are from the CBO’s Updated Budget Projections 2016 to 2026, August 26, 2016. Projections from 2026 to 2040 use Ernst &
Young LLP calculations applied to CBO data from The 2016 Long-Term Budget Outlook, July12, 2016.
Source: CBO, The 2016 Long-Term Budget Outlook, July 12, 2016, and Updated Budget Projections 2016 to 2026, August 26, 2016
Spending
Revenue
ProjectedHistorical
Page 51 Tax legislative and policy update
Corporate taxes as a share of national tax revenue, OECD countries 2012
22.3
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
No
rwa
y
Spain
Japa
n
Kore
a
Un
ite
d S
tate
s
Czech R
epu
blic
Fra
nce
Slo
vak R
epub
lic
Lu
xe
mbo
urg
Ne
w Z
eala
nd
Ca
nad
a
Sw
itzerl
and
Sw
ede
n
Belg
ium
Isra
el
Port
ug
al
Ita
ly
Irela
nd
Un
ite
d K
ing
dom
Turk
ey
De
nm
ark
Austr
ia
Icela
nd
Fin
land
Slo
ven
ia
Esto
nia
Hu
nga
ry
Germ
any
Source: OECD
Page 52 Tax legislative and policy update
Tax extenders: extensions through 2016
1. Extend and modify discharge of indebtedness on principal
residence excluded from gross income of individuals
2. Mortgage insurance premiums treated as qualified
residence interest
3. Deduction for qualified tuition, related expenses
4. Indian employment tax credit
5. Railroad track maintenance credit
6. Mine rescue team training credit
7. Qualified zone academy bonds
8. Classification of certain racehorses as three-year property
9. Seven-year recovery period for motorsports entertainment
complexes
10. Extend and modify accelerated depreciation for business
property on an Indian reservation
11. Election to expense mine safety equipment
12. Special expensing rules for certain film and television
productions and live theatrical productions
13. Deduction allowable with respect to income attributable to
domestic production activities in Puerto Rico
14. Empowerment zone tax incentives
15. Increased cover-over of rum excise tax revenues
16. American Samoa economic development credit
17. Two-year moratorium of the ACA medical device excise tax
(sales in calendar year 2016 and 2017)
18. Credit for Section 25C nonbusiness energy property
19. Credit for alternative fuel vehicle refueling property
20. Credit for two-wheeled plug-in electric vehicles
21. Second generation biofuel producer credit
22. Incentives for biodiesel and renewable diesel
23. Credit for Indian coal production facilities
24. Beginning-of-construction date for non-wind-renewable
power facilities eligible to claim the electricity production
credit or investment credit in lieu of the production credit
25. Credit for construction of energy-efficient new homes
26. Special allowance, second generation biofuel plant
property
27. Energy-efficient commercial buildings deduction
28. Special rule for sales or dispositions to implement Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission or state electric
restructuring policy for qualified electric utilities
29. Excise tax credits and outlay payments for alternative fuel,
and excise tax credits for alternative fuel mixtures
30. Alternative motor vehicle credit, qualified fuel cell
motor vehicles
Page 53 Tax legislative and policy update
Tax extenders: extensions through 2019
1. New markets tax credit
2. Work opportunity tax credit
3. Bonus depreciation:
a. First-year depreciation for 50% of basis of qualified property placed in
service during 2015, 2016 and 2017; phased down to 40% for 2018
and 30% for 2019
b. Election to accelerate alternative minimum tax (AMT) credit in lieu of
bonus depreciation
c. Special rules for plants bearing fruits, nuts
4. Look-through treatment of payments between related controlled foreign
corporations (CFCs) under foreign personal holding company income
rules
5. Beginning-of-construction date for wind-renewable power facilities eligible
to claim the electricity production credit or investment credit in lieu of the
production credit
6. Extension and phaseout of higher credit rate of solar energy credit
7. Extension and phaseout of credits with respect to residential qualified
solar electric property and qualified solar water-heating property
8. Allow independent refiners to exclude 75% of oil transportation costs from
the calculation of their Section 199 manufacturing deduction
Page 54 Tax legislative and policy update
0 600,000 1,200,000 1,800,000 2,400,000 3,000,000
Deductibility of charitable contributions (noneducation, nonhealth)
Defined benefit employer plans
Deductibility of nonbusiness, nonhome State and local taxes
Step-up basis of capital gains at death
Deferral of income from controlled foreign corporations
Defined contribution employer plans
Deductibility of mortgage interest on owner-occupied homes
Capital gains (except agriculture, timber, etc.)
Exclusion of net imputed rental income
Exclusion of employer contributions for medical insurance/care
$693b
$623b
$601b
Top tax expenditures, FY 2016–25 projected revenue effect
$2.74t
$1.18t
$1.06t
$948b
$921b
$853b
$777b
Source: President’s FY 2017 Budget, Analytical Perspectives.
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