In the FY 2017 Budget, the President proposes a number of reforms to the Code that would make our tax system more efficient, simpler, and more equitable. With respect to the taxation of business income, the number of special deductions, credits, and other tax preferences provided to businesses in the Code has expanded significantly since the last comprehensive tax reform effort nearly three decades ago. Such tax preferences help well-connected special interests but do little for economic growth. To be successful in an increasingly competitive global economy, the Nation cannot afford to maintain a tax code burdened with such tax breaks; instead, the Code needs to ensure that the United States is the most attractive place for entrepreneurship and business growth. Therefore, the Budget includes a detailed set of business tax reform proposals that form the basis of a broad reform that would achieve the following five goals: (1) cut the corporate tax rate and pay for it by making structural reforms and eliminating loopholes and subsidies; (2) strengthen American manufacturing and innovation; (3) strengthen the international tax system; (4) simplify and cut taxes for small businesses; and (5) avoid adding to deficits in the short-term or the long-term. In addition to the elements of tax reform, the Budget includes other business tax proposals that close loopholes, improve compliance, and simplify the tax system. The Administration's receipt proposals begin the process of reforming the Code to help address the challenges faced by working families. These proposals: (1) help make work pay by expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit for workers without qualifying children and creating a new second earner credit; (2) reform and simplify tax incentives that help families save for retirement and pay for college and child care; and (3) reform capital gains taxation to eliminate a loophole that lets substantial capital gains income escape tax forever. They also reduce the deficit and make the tax system fairer by eliminating a number of tax loopholes and reducing tax benefits for higher-income taxpayers.

Each February when the President releases his proposed Federal Budget for the following year, Treasury releases the General Explanations of the Administration's Revenue Proposals. Known as the “Green Book” (or Greenbook), the document provides a concise explanation of each of the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2014 tax proposals for raising revenue for the Government. This annual document clearly recaps each proposed change, reviewing the provisions in the Current Law, outlining the Administration's Reasons for Change to the law, and explaining the Proposal for the new law. Ideal for anyone wanting a clear summary of the Administration's policies and proposed tax law changes. While many of the proposals included in the FY 2014 budget are either the same or modified versions of proposals included in the Administration’s FY 2013 budget, there are nearly 50 new revenue proposals in the 2014 budget, including closing loopholes and changing tax credits and incentives. Following are a few of the President's new revenue proposals that are explained in the Treasury FY2014 Green Book: Extending employment tax credits for hiring veterans; Requiring derivatives contracts to be marked to market and taxed as ordinary income on an annual basis; Repealing the domestic manufacturing deduction for oil and natural gas production; Establishing multiple incentives for investment in infrastructure, including “America Fast Forward” Bonds and increasing caps on other bonds; Taxing carried interest as ordinary income; Returning the estate tax to 2009 levels, modifying the recent estate tax exclusions and rates signed into law earlier this year under the American Taxpayer Relief Act; Prohibiting individuals from accumulating more than $3 million in tax-preferred retirement accounts; and Capping the benefit of certain deductions (such as a charitable contribution deduction) to 28 percent for taxpayers at or above the 33% marginal tax rate.

The BBEDCA baseline, which is commonly used in budgeting and is defined in the statute, reflects, with some exceptions, the projected receipts level under current law. However, while the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA) made most of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts and Alternative Minimum Tax relief permanent, it extended the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC), Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) expansions, and Child Tax Credit (CTC) expansions only through 2017. This Budget uses an adjusted baseline that permanently continues the AOTC, EITC, and CTC expansions extended through 2017 under ATRA.

The BBEDCA baseline, which is commonly used in budgeting and is defined in the statute, reflects, with some exceptions, the projected receipts level under current law. However, while the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA) made most of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts and Alternative Minimum Tax relief permanent, it extended the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC), Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) expansions, and Child Tax Credit (CTC) expansions only through 2017. This Budget uses an adjusted baseline that permanently continues the AOTC, EITC, and CTC expansions extended through 2017 under ATRA.

The BBEDCA baseline, which is commonly used in budgeting and is defined in the statute, reflects, with some exceptions, the projected receipts level under current law, including the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA). However, while ATRA made much middleclass tax relief permanent, it extended the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC), Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) expansions, and Child Tax Credit (CTC) expansions only through 2017. This Budget uses an adjusted baseline that is intended to be more realistic. The adjusted baseline permanently continues the AOTC, EITC, and CTC expansions extended through 2017 in ATRA.