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The Huffington Tax Dodgeby
John Berthoud Aug 22, 2003
There is certainly some ironic justice in new revelations that millionaire
columnist-turned-politician Arianna Huffington paid no income tax to the state
of California and only $771 in federal taxes during the last two years.
Huffington has been a leading proponent of making sure successful individuals
and all corporations pay "their fair share." For instance, in announcing
her run for Governor, Ms. Huffington opined "let's close the loopholes that
allow corporations to avoid paying their fair share of taxes by hiding their
profits in tax shelters. To do any less is a slap in the face of all the hard
working taxpayers being forced to dig deeper and deeper into their pockets
so the well connected can pad their bottom line." Ms. Huffington claims
that her tax situation bears no resemblance to those which she has preached
about.
While Huffington's hypocrisy is indefensible, her tax situation certainly
is defensible. Her company -- Christabella Inc. -- had large losses which
offset her personal income. Which means it is fair and right that she
only has a very limited tax liability.
Many of Huffington's class warrior allies believe situations such as hers
call for a "cracking down" on those who aren't paying their "fair share."
In fact, these same voices have convinced the federal government to maintain
an alternate set of rules for individuals and companies who -- like Ms. Huffington
-- may have legitimate deductions that make their tax liability negligible.
This second set of tax rules is called the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT).
The logic behind the AMT is that if you don't pay "enough" under one set of
rules because of legal deductions, then you should be saddled with a second
set of tax rules.
Obviously, the AMT isn't airtight, or otherwise Ms. Huffington would have
had some very big tax bills during the past couple of years. Yet the
same isn't true for many other less fortunate Americans. The AMT, which
originally was aimed at less than 200 taxpayers when it was created in 1969,
now threatens to become the bane of millions of Americans. By 2010,
one-third of all taxpayers in America will have to fill out a second form
and comply with a second set of tax rules. Many will be people of modest
incomes who don't live in $7 million Brentwood estates like Ms. Huffington.
Most in fact will make far less than $100,000 per year. And according
to a U.S. Treasury Department study by economist Robert Rebelein, over half
of all families with three or more children will be subject to the AMT.
So much for a family-friendly Tax Code.
It's time for Congress to scrap the AMT. It adds tremendous complexity
to the Tax Code. Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson calculates that the AMT
adds 12 hours of work to the job of preparing a single tax return. The
AMT also increases the tax burden on American families and corporations.
Of course, increasing the tax liabilities of corporations is somewhat of an
illusion. Those taxes get passed through to workers, shareholders, and
consumers. Higher taxes on Kellogg's simply means more expensive Corn
Flakes.
But maybe most importantly, the AMT is not fair or right.
There should be one set of tax rules and if misfortune or particular economic
circumstances determine that an individual or company has little or no tax
liability, so be it. If people or companies are taking deductions that
have little economic or social justification, the solution is not the AMT.
Rather, these deductions should be the first that are jettisoned to make way
for lower tax rates.
Ms. Huffington, it's OK that you didn't owe any income taxes over the past
two years. Sometimes circumstances temporarily drive down the tax
liabilities for corporations and individuals. Will you and your
success-bashing allies now admit the same should be true for all
Americans?
John Berthoud is President of the 335,000-member National Taxpayers Union, an Alexandria, VA-based citizen group founded in 1969 to work for lower taxes, less regulation, and accountable government.
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