I think it's important to point out that there are significant consequences to raising the capital gains tax, that can adversely affect the U.S economy.
The effects of changing the capital gains tax rate is drastically different than the effects of changing the income tax rate.
You can raise the income tax rate from 35% to 45% and ALL persons affected will still remain profitable. You will earn (profit) 10% less than you did prior, but you will retain a portion of your income.
However, you can raise the capital gains tax from 15% to 25% and SOME persons affected will no long be profitable investors. How so? Here's a demonstration:
Scenario A: 0% Capital Gains Tax
If there is
no capital gains tax, than any investor that successfully invests
>50% of capital will see a return!
Scenario B: 15% Capital Gains Tax
With a
15% capital gains tax, than any investor that successfully invests
>54% of capital will see a return.
Scenario C: 30% Capital Gains Tax
With a
30% capital gains tax, than any investor that successfully invests
>59% of capital will see a return.
As you can see by my demonstration, when you increase the capital gains tax, you make it harder for an investor to realize a return.
What are some of the consequences?:
- By raising the capital gain tax rate, some investors will not see a return. So, long term, you actually DECREASE the amount of taxable capital gains. You could actually end up with less total tax revenue.
- By forcing capital out of business investment, you reduce the amount of capital available to all companies, including startups. This will slowdown innovation, hamper growth (harder to grow if you can't get access to capital), and potentially result in a higher unemployment rate (If it's harder for investers to see a return, they will avoid risky investments. Business's that may have otherwise received captial could be forced to layoff employees or even go out of business.)
- Capital will leave the United States and go to other countries with lower capital gains tax rates.
Yes, you can raise the capital gains tax rate, but there are consequences.
Want more jobs? more innovation? Then you want a lower capital gains tax rate, not a higher one.
If you're looking for ways to increase tax revenue, look at xmcp123's posts in this thread. Close the tax loopholes.