The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association applauded the introduction of legislation designed to kill the estate tax. A Beef U.S.A. Dot Org article says the Death Tax Repeal Act of 2017 was introduced by Republican John Thune of South Dakota and by Representatives Kristi Noem of South Dakota and Georgia Democrat Sanford Bishop. “As a fourth-generation cattle producer,” said NCBA President Tracy Brunner, “I can attest that the death tax can wreak havoc with agricultural families and it’s long past time we kill it once and for all.” NCBA has long pressed for a permanent repeal of the death tax. 96 percent of American farms are owned by families who are asset-rich and cash poor. Most of the typical estate value comes from assets like land, livestock, and the machinery farmers use in production. The death tax often forces families to pay based on the non-liquid value of those assets. Brunner added, “We thank Senator Thune and Representatives Noem and Bishop for introducing this common-sense bill and hope that Congress will pass it as soon as possible.”
From the National Association of Farm Broadcasting news service.
From: National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
Cattlemen Hail Introduction of Legislation to Repeal Death Tax
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association today applauded the introduction of bipartisan legislation that would permanently kill the onerous death tax.
The Death Tax Repeal Act of 2017 was introduced this week by U.S. Sen. John Thune of South Dakota and by U.S. Reps. Kristi Noem (R-SD) and Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.)
“As a fourth-generation cattle producer, I can attest that the death tax can wreak havoc with agricultural families, and it’s long past time that we kill it off once and for all,” said NCBA President Tracy Brunner. “We thank Senator Thune and Representatives Noem and Bishop for introducing this common-sense bill and we hope Congress passes it as soon as possible.”
NCBA has long advocated for a full and permanent repeal of the death tax. In fact, 96 percent of American farms & ranches are owned and operated by families. Many farm and ranch families are asset-rich and cash-poor, with most of the value of their estate attributed to the value of the land, livestock, and equipment they use to grow food and fiber for consumers around the world. Yet the death tax forces them to pay based on the often non-liquid value of those assets.
The death tax also costs agricultural families a lot in unnecessary and unproductive compliance costs. According to the Joint Economic Committee, for every dollar of tax revenue raised from the death tax, a dollar is wasted in compliance costs. For example, in 2006, it was estimated that family businesses spent $27.8 billion just to comply with the law.