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Kamala's Bizarre 'Unrealized Gains Tax'

SkyChief

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It's tough inventing new taxes, and it's even tougher to get Americans to support them.

But Komrade Kamala has proposed a tax oddity so unique, and so remarkably stupid, that it's actually historic, in my opinion.

The Unrealized Gains Tax would harm anyone investing for retirement, by depressing their asset values. The tax promises to only harm the very-rich, but that is false.

An "unrealized gain" occurs when the value of an asset increases, but the asset hasn't been sold yet. So the virtual "gains" are taxed in anticipation of possible future gains that may or may not occur - depending on various market and economic factors.

It's a classic example of why we shouldn't count the chickens before they hatch. It's really dumb , and it's classic Kamala nonsense.

"We don't have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven't taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much." - Ronald Reagan
 
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Komrade Kamala?
Now I have to wonder where someone would have thought up that gem? From the sagacity and intellect of their own mind? Or from watching to much Fox or listening to rightwing media?

I mean - Komrade Kamala? - that sounds like such an original line of attack it smacks of pure genius, doesn't it?

rolling-on-the-floor-laughing_1f923.png
 
Eliminate all deductions and tax gross income, simplify the Income tax as I've suggested.
 
It affects Americans with net worths of $100 million or more.

It affects nobody since congress won’t pass it. The danger is establishing the legal precedent that ‘unrealized’ (annual) income is federally taxable (based in the 16A). Of course, the initial low tax rate and high ‘net worth’ would be subject to change.
 
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See, everyone focuses on the idea that rich people will be taxed. If we used Warren's model, they would be taxed not only on stock, but also on luxury assets like paintings, etc. - things with "stored" value that, if you sold it, would make you money. And that's fine …

… until the market crashes like in 1929 or until people no longer see value in Vincent Van Gogh's paintings, etc., which in such a nightmare scenario would cause rich people to lose millions. Rich people already paid their taxes on billions the prior year, and now they've got a net loss -- which would entitle them to a refund. Are the same people who are okay with taxing millionaires and billionaires on unrealized gains also okay with issuing them huge refunds when and if the bottom falls out of their unrealized gains?
 
See, everyone focuses on the idea that rich people will be taxed. If we used Warren's model, they would be taxed not only on stock, but also on luxury assets like paintings, etc. - things with "stored" value that, if you sold it, would make you money. And that's fine …

… until the market crashes like in 1929 or until people no longer see value in Vincent Van Gogh's paintings, etc., which in such a nightmare scenario would cause rich people to lose millions. Rich people already paid their taxes on billions the prior year, and now they've got a net loss -- which would entitle them to a refund. Are the same people who are okay with taxing millionaires and billionaires on unrealized gains also okay with issuing them huge refunds when and if the bottom falls out of their unrealized gains?

There would have to be a refund for unrealized capital losses if there's a tax on unrealized capital gains.

Taking this to what I think would be a logical outcome multibillionaires could receive more in refunds than they paid in taxes if their portfolio declines enough.
 
There would have to be a refund for unrealized capital losses if there's a tax on unrealized capital gains.

Taking this to what I think would be a logical outcome multibillionaires could receive more in refunds than they paid in taxes if their portfolio declines enough.
Precisely. And in a nightmare, down-trodden economy like the hypothetical situation I outlined, this harms government way more than the amount of money they could make from them in a given year. It's one of those ideas that sounds like a good plan until you stop and think about it a bit harder.
 
It affects nobody since congress won’t pass it. The danger is establishing the legal precedent that ‘unrealized’ (annual) income is federally taxable (based in the 16A). Of course, the initial low tax rate and high ‘net worth’ would be subject to change.

Should unrealized value be allowed as collateral on loans?
 
It's tough inventing new taxes, and it's even tougher to get Americans to support them.

But Komrade Kamala has proposed a tax oddity so unique, and so remarkably stupid, that it's actually historic, in my opinion.

The Unrealized Gains Tax would harm anyone investing for retirement, by depressing their asset values. The tax promises to only harm the very-rich, but that is false.

An "unrealized gain" occurs when the value of an asset increases, but the asset hasn't been sold yet. So the virtual "gains" are taxed in anticipation of possible future gains that may or may not occur - depending on various market and economic factors.

It's a classic example of why we shouldn't count the chickens before they hatch. It's really dumb , and it's classic Kamala nonsense.

"We don't have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven't taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much." - Ronald Reagan
377442_image.webp
 
Should unrealized value be allowed as collateral on loans?

What difference does that make? Should (secured?) loans be limited to those with at least $100M in net worth?
 
It's tough inventing new taxes, and it's even tougher to get Americans to support them.

But Komrade Kamala has proposed a tax oddity so unique, and so remarkably stupid, that it's actually historic, in my opinion.

The Unrealized Gains Tax would harm anyone investing for retirement, by depressing their asset values. The tax promises to only harm the very-rich, but that is false.

An "unrealized gain" occurs when the value of an asset increases, but the asset hasn't been sold yet. So the virtual "gains" are taxed in anticipation of possible future gains that may or may not occur - depending on various market and economic factors.

It's a classic example of why we shouldn't count the chickens before they hatch. It's really dumb , and it's classic Kamala nonsense.

"We don't have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven't taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much." - Ronald Reagan
Exactly when did she propose this?
 
Should unrealized value be allowed as collateral on loans?
See, that's an interesting question. I would think that if you are going to used unrealized value as a collateral on loans, then it should be a one-time-only tax (not a recurring one) on the value you're putting up. So, to use Trevor Noah's example, Elon Musk used his Tesla stock as collateral to buy Twitter. Assuming the deal went through (which it did), you're no longer using the collateral as unrealized value but are instead using it as part of a transaction. That transaction should be taxed. But stock not being used in any transaction that is just gathering dust in the bank account shouldn't be taxed.
 
Yes, unrealized gains tax is a terrible idea.

If only Putin party offered us someone other than a lowlife traitor as an alternative, we'd have something to discuss.
 
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