A Tax Reform Conundrum: Insights From A Survey Of Tax Professors

Abstract

The George W. Bush presidency’s mandate for tax cuts, combined with predictions of substantial budget surpluses during the next ten years, is fueling two related debates:  (1) elimination of the estate tax, and (2) reduction of tax rates by reforming and simplifying the tax code.  This paper uses the results of a survey of accounting tax professors to assess opinions regarding the elimination of the estate tax, as well as, the feasibility of reducing tax rates through reform by using a flat tax.  The results of this study suggest that tax professors do not favor the repeal of the estate tax and are lukewarm to replacing the current tax system with a flat tax.