‘Already achieved virtual repeal’: Professor explains why estate tax was left out of megabill

Estate Tax Debate & Political Strategy - Republicans have been attempting to repeal the estate tax for 35 years, initially terming it the "death tax" [1] - Wealthy Americans initiated a campaign approximately 35 years ago to eliminate the estate tax, focusing on avoiding both income and estate taxes [3][4] - A poll in 2017 indicated that 67% of Americans believed the estate tax affected the poor and middle class, despite it only applying to less than 01% of the public [8][9] Estate Tax Avoidance & Revenue Impact - Congress has not closed any loopholes related to the estate tax since 1990, leading to widespread tax avoidance [4] - The wealthy avoid reporting transfers, using various methods to report them as zero-value gifts [6] - In 2024, the estate tax raised $30 billion, an amount comparable to what Elon Musk can gain or lose in a single day [7] Wealth Disparity & Estate Tax Effectiveness - The wealth of the wealthiest Americans is currently $50 trillion, approximately 10 times the total federal operating budget [7] - The estate tax serves as a shield for the wealthy, creating a public perception of tax payment while allowing them to avoid actual taxation [5]