AISI - American Iron and Steel Institute : Steel Institute Comments on Draft Tax Reform Proposals, AISI Says That Repealing Key Provisions Would Raise Effective Tax Rate on Industry

AISI Home

For Immediate Release
January 17, 2014

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Thomas J. Gibson, president and CEO of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) today reiterated the steel industry's concerns with proposals in the tax reform discussion draft released last month by the Senate Finance Committee staff which recommends repeal of the current accelerated depreciation system (Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System, or MACRS), the Last-In-First-Out (LIFO) accounting method, and other tax provisions supported by the steel industry and other U.S. manufacturers.

In comments submitted to the Senate Finance Committee today, Gibson said, "…We are very concerned that many of the proposals put forth in the cost recovery and accounting staff discussion draft will ultimately raise the effective tax rate on U.S. manufacturers by repealing longstanding tax incentives for investment in capital intensive industries. This will trigger an increase in the cost of capital, create a disincentive for new investment and ultimately slow economic growth."

In particular, Gibson said that for capital intensive industries, like steel, whose investments require significant cash expenditures and take a number of years to yield a return, accelerated depreciation "is a cash flow issue." By providing a faster return on capital investment, accelerated depreciation often provides the cash flow necessary for a company to decide to undertake certain new investments that might not go forward otherwise. The draft also proposes a repeal of LIFO which Gibson said would cause a company to generate increased taxable income as if it had sold part of its inventory even though no real profit was made, triggering a retroactive tax increase and penalizing companies for using an accepted accounting practice.

AISI's comments also addressed a number of other tax code provisions that are important to the steel industry and manufacturers more broadly, some of which were also targeted for repeal in the discussion draft.

Gibson concluded, "A redistribution of wealth from manufacturers to other sectors of the economy will not result in the pro-growth, job-creation, tax reform Members of Congress are seeking. We encourage [the Committee] to look at tax reform through the lens of what types of reforms and policies will trigger substantial new investments in the U.S., which will result in increased job creation and economic growth."

.

Contact: Lisa Harrison
202.452.7115 / [e-mail]

Click here for a PDF version of this release.

AISI serves as the voice of the North American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice. AISI also plays a lead role in the development and application of new steels and steelmaking technology. AISI is comprised of 24 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and approximately 125 associate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry. AISI's member companies represent over three quarters of both U.S. and North American steel capacity.www.steel.org.