Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 07/2009

US Taxation of Multinational Corporations: What Makes Sense, What Doesn't

Gary Clyde Hufbauer, Jisun Kim

March 2009

Peterson Institute for International Economics

Abstract

As the administration and Congress catch their breath from rescuing the economy, their thoughts are quickly turning to other issues—including the structure of the US tax system. Everyone agrees that the US tax system inflicts enormous complexity on the American public. But reform is never easy. Who pays the tax burden ranks among the most contentious issues that Congress has historically faced, and this time around will be no different.