Seeking to keep his campaign promise to have total tax reform done by Christmas, President Trump signed into law the biggest tax cut in U.S. history this week. The sweeping tax reform slashes the corporate tax rate while aiming to simplify individual tax codes into easier to define brackets.
The things that have upset many are the limits and outright eliminations of certain itemized tax deductions that many are used to taking.
The counter is a higher standard deduction that for many, is greater than what they would have itemized anyway.
Who are the real winners?
So now that the tax breaks have been signed into law, who stands to benefit the most? It's a simple question that has a long, and sort of confusing answer. The first winners to look at will be the corporations. Having their corporate rate cut from 35% down to 21 percent will absolutely pad the bottom line of the wealthiest companies in America. This is where a lot of the scorn comes from.
Ideally, these savings will be used to expand their workforce and offer better salaries and benefits to employees.
Of course in the real world that won't entirely happen, but let's not pretend that it isn't at least happening to some degree. Bob Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots and Kraft Foods, announced plans to open a paper mill in North Carolina. The idea is that the job creation will positively impact communities across the nation.
Focusing more on the everyday Americans, they will be winners in this too. Not just because there will be more jobs either. Those earning $25,000 to $100,000 stand to see the highest percentage savings in their tax bills.
Then why are people so mad?
This answer is a little more straightforward. It's jealousy. Pure and simple. Sadly, in a capitalistic society, there will be those that rise to the top and outperform their vast majority of their peers.
It is easy to look up at them from the bottom and try to diminish or tear down their achievements because we did not reach the same level. However, it is counterproductive to think this way. Focusing on and improving your own life will be much more satisfying and beneficial.
If you are making say $50,000 a year and your new Tax Bill saves you $1,000, you may be looking at an over 20% decrease. When you compare it to someone who made $1.5 million and saved $2,500, it looks like the rich getting richer. However, that tax savings was only 0.6%. The real issue is the income, not the tax brackets.
The individuals who are seeing their taxes rise are due to the loss of the itemized deductions. Where numerous loopholes and charitable giving is done to lower some peoples taxable income, it is a disingenuous way to lower one's taxes.
The optics look bad when a middle-class family sees their taxes rise. Regardless, the overall majority of middle-class people are seeing some savings. The anger feels like nothing but simple, team-based politics. If Democrats had this plan, then Republicans would hate it just the same.
Income equality is a real thing, but the over taxation in our country is as well. The two aren't necessarily completely related, however. Steps still need to be taken to raise wages across the board for the middle and lowest earners. This tax break hopefully will be one component in that resurgence.