Thoughtless Taxes

A marginal tax rate of 70% on income over $10 million would raise about $380 billion between 2020 and 2029. But if changes in taxpayer behavior are accounted for, revenue falls to about $350 billion. Assuming high-income owners of pass-through business reorganize as C-corporations to get the 21% corporate tax rate, revenue falls to $250 billion, or even $165 billion if the money is retained in the corporation forever.