Tax Break

Temporary Corporate Tax Cuts

Date: 
February 13, 2008
Policy Area: 
Fiscal Policy
Economic Target: 
Other Business
Action Type: 
Tax Break
Maximum Amount: 
$51.00 billion
Amount Spent: 
$51.00 billion
Deficit Impact: 
$7.50 billion

This law (H.R. 5140) included two provisions aimed at providing temporary tax breaks for businesses. The first provision allowed businesses to deduct 50 percent of their investments in certain depreciable property (e.g. equipment and computer software) from 2008 taxable income. The second provision increased the expensing allowance for depreciable business assets up to $250,000 and increased the maximum phase-out threshold for the allowance to $800,000.

Notes: 

Maximum Amount indicate CBO estimates for Fiscal Year 2008 and Fiscal Year 2009. Amount spent is CBO estimated cost for fiscal year 2008. Deficit Impact indicates CBO projection over ten years.

Individual Tax Rebates

Date: 
February 13, 2008
Policy Area: 
Fiscal Policy
Economic Target: 
Consumers
Action Type: 
Tax Break
Maximum Amount: 
$106.00 billion
Amount Spent: 
$96.00 billion
Deficit Impact: 
$106.00 billion

This law (H.R. 5140) provided tax rebates to certain individuals filing for tax years 2007 or 2008. For individuals with a income-lax liability or an earned income of at least $3,000, rebates were between $300 and $600. For couples filing joint tax returns, the tax rebates were between $600 and $1,200. In addition, individuals or couples received a $300 tax credit for each child living in their household. The law stipulated that the rebates would be phased out for incomes exceeding $75,000 for individuals and $150,000 for couples filing together.

Notes: 

Maximum amount and deficit impact indicates CBO estimates for Fiscal Year 2008 and Fiscal Year 2009. Amount spent indicates money distributed as of 12/31/2008 (http://www.treasury.gov/press/releases/hp1351.htm).

Other Individual Tax Breaks

Date: 
February 17, 2009
Who: 
IRS
Policy Area: 
Fiscal Policy
Economic Target: 
Consumers
Action Type: 
Tax Break
Maximum Amount: 
$0.00 billion
Deficit Impact: 
$0.00 billion

Provisions are part of the $787 billion "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009," a set of policies designed to mitigate the effects of the economic crisis.  The act contains significant spending for direct worker assistance, infrastructure, healthcare, education, aid to states, and

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