IMF Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit
comments and to encourage debate. The views expressed in IMF Working Papers are those of the
author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF, its Executive Board, or IMF management.
IMF Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit
comments and to encourage debate. The views expressed in IMF Working Papers are those of the
author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF, its Executive Board, or IMF management.
This paper reviews the literature on the revenue implications of a lower capital gains tax rate in the United States. The existing empirical research indicates that the timing of realizations is sensitive to tax changes but is inconclusive on the long-run revenue implications. No study claims that tax revenues would increase very much on a permanent basis. The paper concludes that other aspects of a lower capital gains tax rate deserves more attention, in particular its impact on resource allocation and tax arbitrage.