ISSA has joined the Coalition for Fair Effective Tax Rates as a steering committee member to allow the association to take a more active role in representing the interests of all members in the ongoing debate about tax policy.
 
The goal of the coalition is to educate the U.S. Congress and key stakeholders that any tax reform proposals should be viewed through the lens of effective–not marginal or statutory—tax rates.
 
It is critical that policy-makers measure tax reform on the basis of effective rates–what businesses actually pay. Only by addressing effective tax rates can tax reform truly level the playing field and correct the current system in which low-rate payers shift the tax burden to industries and companies that pay close to or more than the statutory rate. The coalition seeks to:

• Establish effective tax rate fairness as the best metric to make meaningful comparisons among policy choices and how they would impact different business types and industries
 
• Use this metric to bolster the supporters of comprehensive tax reform that broadens the tax base while lowering the rates for corporations, pass-through businesses, and individuals
 
• Impress upon lawmakers and key stakeholders the negative impact that high effective tax rates have on American businesses.
 
“Joining the Coalition for Fair Effective Tax Rates as a steering committee member provides ISSA with the opportunity to better represent the interests of our members as the national debate on tax reform begins to heat up,” said ISSA Executive Director John Garfinkel.