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Pass-Through Businesses

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High-income taxpayers earn the majority of pass-through income pass-through business pass-through businesses

Pass-Through Businesses Q&A

Pass-through businesses are the dominant business structure in America. Pass throughs file more tax returns and report more business income than C corporations. Pass-through businesses are not subject to the corporate income tax, but instead report their income on the individual income tax returns of owners. This blog will address some frequently asked questions about pass-through structure and taxation.

4 min read
Less than one percent of businesses employ almost half of the private sector workforce, business employment, employment and taxes

Firm Variation by Employment and Taxes

Less than one percent of businesses employ almost half of the private sector workforce. Large companies pay 89% of corporate income taxes in the United States.

2 min read
more business income is reported on individual tax returns than corporate returns, pass-through business income, business tax returns, corporate tax returns

Corporate and Pass-through Business Income and Returns Since 1980

More business income is reported on individual tax returns than corporate returns. The U.S. now has fewer corporations and more individually owned businesses. Corporations make up less than 5 percent of businesses but earn 60 percent of revenues.

3 min read
The Section 199A pass-through deduction allows taxpayers to exclude up to 20 percent of their pass-through business income from federal income tax. Inflation Reduction Act book minimum tax Inflation Reduction Act accelerated depreciation change in corporate tax liablities, book tax, or corporate minimum tax congressional budget office cbo Eliminating the alternative minimum tax eliminating the AMT inflation indexing, inflation adjusting state tax codes, traditional CPI, index brackets for inflation, index for inflation

Reforming the Pass-Through Deduction

Here’s how the new pass-through deduction works and how it can be reformed to be less complex, less prone to abuse, more neutral, and more economically efficient.

49 min read
Illinois income tax pass-through

Will Illinois Double Down on High Taxes?

Amending the Illinois constitution and adopting a graduated-rate income tax cannot solve the state’s fundamental problems. Instead, it doubles down on an already uncompetitive tax code.

16 min read
Grain Glitch

The ‘Grain Glitch’ Needs to Be Fixed

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act tax preference for farm co-ops would distort agricultural activity and create tax planning opportunities for wealthy taxpayers.

9 min read
Individual Income Tax Conformity by State

Pass-Through Deduction Won’t Flow Through to Most States

For policymakers in most states, the fact that the pass-through deduction doesn’t affect AGI should come as a relief. For those in the six states which use federal taxable income as their starting point for conformity, decoupling from the provision is an entirely viable option.

2 min read
small business pass-through tax

Small Pass-Through Businesses Would See Some Benefits Under the House Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

Even with large changes, many in the pass-through community are arguing that small pass-throughs don’t benefit since most or all of their taxable income falls below the 25 percent maximum rate. While correct on the small point, advocates miss the greater tax reform picture. Small pass-through businesses would still benefit from a number of other changes.

2 min read