Irony alert: IRS scandal puts tax reform on hold

Tough to enact tax reform when everybody's attacking the tax man, says Vanguard's Washington watcher.
MAY 30, 2013
Advisers can expect few changes in the tax law for the foreseeable future — thanks in part to the recent revelation that the Internal Revenue Service targeted conservative not-for-profit groups. While bitter feelings already exist across party lines, Ann L. Combs, principal and head of government relations at The Vanguard Group Inc., said she believes the scandal surrounding the IRS’ treatment of Tea Party affiliates will only serve to sharpen that divide. “The IRS situation that’s unfolding now will make tax reform harder,” she told an audience at InvestmentNews’ Retirement Income Summit in Chicago. “It’ll be hard to talk about tax reform, as everyone will be attacking the agency that administers the code.” Despite the impasse, Ms. Combs believes that some progress will be made in getting legislators to commit to the intention of tax reform. Actual changes, however, are some time off. As recently as earlier this month, there was some optimism that with Ways and Means chairman Dave Camp, R-Mich., and Senate Finance Committee chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., would commit to a bipartisan overhaul of the tax code. But with apparently little action or effort to move forward, those hopes were already dimming before the scandal erupted. Now, all bets are off. “This controversy sucks a lot of oxygen out of the room and distracts from tax reform,” said Steve Rosenthal, a visiting fellow at the Tax Policy Center. “There is also the harm to a spirit of cooperation and collegiality: Tax reform can only happen in coordination with the legislative and executive branches, and Democrats and Republicans.

Latest News

Federal judge dismisses Eltek manipulation lawsuit against Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
Federal judge dismisses Eltek manipulation lawsuit against Morgan Stanley Smith Barney

Nine-month electronic trading freeze and share lending program at the center of dismissed claim.

RIA wrap: Dynamic strikes South Carolina deal to reach $7B AUM milestone
RIA wrap: Dynamic strikes South Carolina deal to reach $7B AUM milestone

Meanwhile, Rossby Financial's leadership buildout rolls on with a new COO appointment as Balefire Wealth welcomes a distinguished retirement specialist to its national network.

Rethinking diversification amid a concentrated S&P 500
Rethinking diversification amid a concentrated S&P 500

With a smaller group of companies driving stock market performance, advisors must work more intentionally to manage concentration risks within client portfolios.

Merrill pays second settlement to former Miami Dolphins player, client of ex-broker
Merrill pays second settlement to former Miami Dolphins player, client of ex-broker

Professional athletes are often targets of scam artists and are particularly vulnerable to fraud.

Schwab touts AI as its biggest growth lever at investor day
Schwab touts AI as its biggest growth lever at investor day

The brokerage giant tells Wall Street it will use artificial intelligence to reach clients it has never been able to serve — and turn the technology's perceived threat into a competitive edge.

SPONSORED Beyond wealth management: Why the future of advice is becoming more human

As technical expertise becomes increasingly commoditized, advisors who can integrate strategy, relationships, and specialized expertise into a cohesive client experience will define the next era of wealth management

SPONSORED Durability over scale: What actually defines a great advisory firm

Growth may get the headlines, but in my experience, longevity is earned through structure, culture, and discipline