Get the Facts! 5 Common Tax Reform Myths Debunked

May 14, 2018 by AFP

Have you spoken with a friend, family member or neighbor about tax reform lately?

The passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was a historic victory for millions of everyday Americans.

Hundreds of companies have responded to tax reform by increasing pay, expanding worker benefits, giving out bonuses, planning new investments at home and creating new jobs.

Sadly, there is a LOT of misinformation about tax reform floating around!

Opponents are dead-set on undermining the new tax law and rolling back its benefits by spreading myths about it.

Read some of the most common falsehoods about tax reform below and get the facts to share with your family and friends:

MYTH #1: Tax Reform Raises Taxes on the Middle Class

FACT: The Majority of Americans Will See Lower Taxes

While opponents of tax reform claim it will hurt working-class families, the facts tell a different story.

The U.S. Treasury Department estimates that 90 percent of wage earners will see more take-home pay. Many Americans already are seeing bigger paychecks.
According to the House Ways and Means Committee, a typical family of four earning $73,000 will see a tax cut of $2,059. That’s more money in the pockets of families to save, spend or invest.
The nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation estimates that every income group will receive a tax cut.

MYTH #2: 83 Percent of the Tax Cuts Go to the Wealthiest One Percent

FACT: The Bulk of the Benefits of Tax Reform Go to Everyday Americans

Tax reform opponents frequently tout a misleading claim: they say tax reform mainly benefits the wealthiest 1 percent.

Here’s the problem: The claim assumes the tax cuts for the individual tax rate will expire in 2025.

This assertion completely ignores the major tax breaks Americans will have received up until that time.

MYTH #3: Tax Reform Is a Bailout for Corporations, Including Those That Ship Jobs Overseas

FACT: A Lower Corporate Tax Rate Makes American Companies More Competitive and Leads to Better Jobs and Higher Wages for American Workers

Opponents of tax reform claim the law is a corporate giveaway, rewarding companies that ship jobs overseas, while Americans at home lose.

In reality, tax reform helps American workers win. They benefit from a lower corporate rate that makes American businesses more competitive.

Lowering the corporate tax rate has received bipartisan support in the past. In fact, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Sens. Claire McCaskill, Joe Donnelly, Heidi Heitkamp and Sherrod Brown have all previously supported cutting the corporate tax rate. Even President Obama called for corporate tax reform.

Thanks to tax reform, American companies are more optimistic about growing their businesses. Companies are even starting to bring jobs back to the United States.

The Council of Economic Advisers estimates the lower corporate tax rate will grow the economy and lead to a $4,000 annual wage increase for American workers.

Tax reform doesn’t just mean lower taxes – it means more investment across the economy, more jobs, and higher wages for millions of Americans.

MYTH #4: Layoffs and Store Closures Show Just How Bad Tax Reform is For America

FACT: Companies Announcing Layoffs Have Been Distressed for Years

Tax-reform opponents blame the law for company layoffs and store closures.

The truth? Tax reform has been in effect only since Jan. 1, 2018. Layoffs have been years in the making.

A few examples:

Toys ‘R’ Us filed for bankruptcy in September 2017. They haven’t reported an annual profit in five years.
Sales at Sears have been declining for the past six years.
Sam’s Club has been struggling to keep up with Costco.

The tax law is meant to help American companies become more competitive, but changes to the tax code aren’t magic. Tax reform cannot save individual businesses that have been declining for years.

MYTH #5: Tax Reform Will Explode the National Debt

FACT: History Shows That Cutting Taxes Has Led to Strong Economic Growth and Resulted in Higher Federal Revenues

Historically, economic growth following tax reform has resulted in more tax revenue for the federal government, not less.

After the bold tax reform measures enacted by Presidents Kennedy, Reagan and Bush, the United States added millions of jobs, Americans took home more money and the economy grew. This led to hundreds of billions in higher tax revenues.

Tax reform opponents have expressed concern over deficits and the national debt when it comes to tax reform.

Yet those same vocal opponents of tax reform due to “debt concerns” supported a “bipartisan budget deal” that raised spending by $300 billion over the next two years.

That same “deal” contained billions in special interest tax breaks that could result in a $1.5 trillion federal spending increase over the next decade.

Correcting the Record

Thanks to tax reform, otherwise known as the American Pay Raise, many Americans are experiencing a surge of new economic growth and keeping more of their hard-earned paychecks.

Now we need YOU to spread the good news!

AFP wants to empower you with the tools you need to set the record straight.

Please share the truth about tax reform’s benefits with your friends and neighbors.

Then, urge Congress to take steps to make the tax cuts permanent and protect the benefits we’ve seen from the American Pay Raise!