Democrats’ Billionaire Taxes Still Have a (Slight) Chance

The Supreme Court has left a very narrow legal path open for the billionaire taxes that are central to the Democrats' economic agenda. In a recent international-tax case related to the 2017 tax law, the court avoided ruling on whether the 16th Amendment mandates that income taxes apply only to realized income. Instead, the court upheld a tax on U.S. shareholders’ portion of a foreign company’s earnings based on Congress’s power to attribute an entity’s realized income to its owners. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, writing for the majority, noted that the issue of realization was not resolved, leaving the door open for future legal challenges.

Democrats, aiming to address wealth inequality and seeking new revenue sources, hope to tax billionaires on the appreciation of their stock values even if those assets are not sold. The court's limited ruling provides a glimmer of hope for progressives, but four justices explicitly ruled out such taxes, and the majority acknowledged unresolved questions. Any new legislation would face significant hurdles, including whether it can pass Congress and survive legal scrutiny over taxing unrealized income. Conservative groups, like the Buckeye Institute, argue that there are significant legal constraints that would prevent the application of a wealth tax.

The current composition of the Supreme Court presents a formidable obstacle for advocates of taxing unrealized gains. Four justices—Barrett, Alito, Thomas, and Gorsuch—have expressed that the 16th Amendment requires realization. Meanwhile, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson contends that the amendment does not mandate such a requirement. This split puts proponents in a difficult position, as they must convince both Kavanaugh and Chief Justice Roberts, in addition to the three most liberal justices, to uphold any novel tax concept. Despite past legislative failures, Democrats, including President Biden and Senator Ron Wyden, continue to push for taxing unrealized gains, viewing the current system as flawed. They propose various measures to address political and administrative challenges, aiming to close loopholes and ensure that the wealthiest individuals contribute their fair share.

For more information see Richard Rubin "Democrats’ Billionaire Taxes Still Have a (Slight) Chance", The Wall Street Journal, June 22, 2024.

Special thanks to Joel C. Dobris (Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law) for bringing this article to my attention.