We are actively opposing a permanent repeal of the estate tax, which falls exclusively on the richest 2% of taxpayers — those with a net worth of at least $1.5 million per individual ($3 million for a couple).
Nearly half of all estate taxes are paid by the wealthiest 0.1% of the American population – a few thousand families each year. Repealing the estate tax would result in multi-million dollar tax cuts to this tiny sliver of Americans. The estate tax is our most progressive tax and an important source of revenue, as well as an incentive to recycle wealth through the non-profit sector.
We recognize the importance of protecting America's family farms and small businesses, and the estate tax has many special provisions that do so. But this concern — the rationale usually advanced for eliminating the estate tax — can be addressed by amending the existing estate tax system.
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Estate Tax Reform, Not Repeal |
Poll: Americans Support Estate Tax Reform over Repeal
What Would Estate Tax Reform Mean? |
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| Media Coverage |
Estate Tax Repeal Emerges As Pivotal Budget Issue CongressDaily, 3/8/04
State a Loser in Estate Tax Repeal Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 12/2/03
Taxes Are What We Pay for Our Privileged Way of Life Chicago Sun-Times, 11/29/03
Q & A: William Gates Sr. on the Estate Tax Minneapolis Star-Tribune, 10/26/03
A Fair Payment for War Op-ed by William H. Gates Sr. and Chuck Collins, Washington Post, 3/25/03
Bill Gates Sr. Brings Estate Tax Crusade To Farmers Union Congress Daily, 3/3/03
 Bill Gates Sr. and Chuck Collins on the Estate Tax Marketplace Radio, 2/4/03
Former Fed Chairman Paul Volcker Blasts Idea of Permanently Repealing Estate Tax. (Wall Street Journal, Jan. 2, 2003)
David Rockefeller Sr. Comes Out Against Estate Tax Repeal (San Diego Union-Tribune, Nov. 15, 2002)
Tax the Wealthy: Why America Needs the Estate Tax by William H. Gates Sr. and Chuck Collins (The American Prospect, June 17, 2002)
Older coverage
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| Links |
Americans for a Fair Estate Tax
Federal Budget Trade-Offs Calculator For the effects of estate tax repeal in your state, go to this calculator from the National Priorities Project and choose "eliminate the estate tax" from the list of programs.
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Estate Tax Articles
Citizens for Tax Justice
Estate Tax Facts from the Tax Policy Center
National Farmers Union Position on Estate Tax
Independent Sector Position on Estate Tax and Charitable Giving |
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| 4 Easy Ways to Take Action |
Check the actions you want to take, fill out and submit the contact form, and we'll be in touch!
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| New Book on the Estate Tax |
Wealth and Our Commonwealth: Why America Should Tax Accumulated Fortunes
(Beacon Press, 2003)
by William H. Gates, Sr. and Chuck Collins • Foreword by Paul Volcker
Learn more | Order now
The quintessential “Man Bites Dog” story of over 1,000 high-net-worth individuals who rose up to protest the repeal of the estate tax and in the process made headlines everywhere. |
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| Estate Tax Advertisements |
 Click on each ad to download a PDF copy.
New York Times, Feb. 2001
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The Nation, 2001
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Roll Call, March, 2001
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New York Times, May, 2002
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