• Geographic Income Tax Marriage Equality: A Proposal to Expand the Double Basis Step-Up

    Author(s):
    Daniel Durst
    Date:
    2022
    Group(s):
    Michigan State Law Review
    Subject(s):
    Law
    Item Type:
    Article
    Permanent URL:
    https://doi.org/10.17613/qq1e-1d92
    Abstract:
    Surviving spouses in community property states enjoy a significant, but unintended, income tax advantage over surviving spouses in other states. The advantage, known as “the double basis step-up,” generally eliminates capital gains for surviving spouses in community property states. This geographic inequality incentivizes inefficient behaviors for legislatures and taxpayers in common law property states seeking to obtain the benefits of the double basis step-up. Furthermore, taxpayer strategies to obtain a double basis step-up exacerbate wealth inequality, as they are most likely to be implemented by individuals with not only the motive but also the wherewithal to obtain sophisticated tax advice. This Article proposes a novel approach to eliminate the geographic inequality of the current double basis step-up rule by decoupling double basis step-up eligibility from state-law defined “community property.” Specifically, this Article proposes granting a double basis step-up for every surviving spouse’s “marital property,” using a nationwide definition. Expanding the double basis step-up in this manner would create geographic equality and reduce behavioral inefficiency without impairing tax administration. Furthermore, this proposal could be incorporated into the longstanding basis step-up rules, which have proved to be persistent despite frequent objections, making it an especially pragmatic solution. The benefit would extend to all spouses recognized under state law as married, without distinction between same-sex and opposite-sex spouses.
    Metadata:
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    Published as:
    Journal article     Show details
    Publisher:
    Michigan State University College of Law
    Pub. Date:
    2022
    Journal:
    Michigan State Law Review
    Volume:
    2022
    Issue:
    1
    Page Range:
    55 - 112
    ISSN:
    1087-5468
    Status:
    Published
    Last Updated:
    10 months ago
    License:
    Attribution
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