Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

White House defends plan to hike capital gains tax, saying it'll only hit the richest 0.3%, report says

White House defends plan to hike capital gains tax, saying it'll only hit the richest 0.3%, report says

President Joe Biden is set to propose an increase in capital gains tax for the richest Americans to 39.6% from 20%, according to reports.
A White House official has defended plans to propose a sharp rise in the top capital gains tax rate to 39.6%, saying the changes would only hit the richest 0.3% of Americans, according to a report.

A senior official in President Joe Biden's White House told the Financial Times the wealthiest Americans had been growing disproportionately richer.

"Many, many of the returns at the very top are what they call above-market rates of return, rents and so on," the official said. "Taxing the people who are doing extremely well in the economy is one way of asking somewhat more from that."

Biden is set to propose a major increase in capital gains tax from the current 20% base level this week, according to various media outlets.

Biden's plan would propose raising the top marginal income tax to 39.6% from 37% and bringing capital gains tax in line with that for those earning more than $1 million a year.

When combined with the 3.8% surtax on investment income put in place under Barack Obama, it would take the tax rate on the wealthiest investors to 43.4%.

Republicans and many investors have criticized the plan to dramatically raise the tax, arguing that it will reduce investment and damage the economy.

However, the Biden official told the FT: "This is consistent with what the President had said on the campaign trail, which was that we needed to fundamentally reform parts of the code that affect the very, very richest or very highest income Americans, in ways to make sure that it is fair and not rewarding wealth over work."

Yet Democrats' razor-thin majorities in the House and the Senate mean the top rate for capital gains tax could well only end up at around 28%, according to analysts at Goldman Sachs.

"A 28% rate looks most likely, in our view, as it is roughly halfway between the current rate and Biden's likely proposal," the analysts said.

"This is also the rate that President Reagan and a Democratic House settled on a few decades ago when raising the tax from 20%."

The White House has been contacted for comment.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
China Accuses US of Violating Trade Truce
Panama Port Owner Balances US-China Pressures
France Implements Nationwide Outdoor Smoking Ban to Protect Children
German Chancellor Merz Keeps Putin Guessing on Missile Strategy
Mandelson Criticizes UK's 'Fetish' for Abandoning EU Regulations
British Fishing Boat Owner Fined €30,000 by French Authorities
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
×