Connecticut House Bill HB06373

Connecticut 2017 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/23/17
• Refer: 1/23/17

Caption

An Act Establishing A Pay Ratio Corporation Income Tax On Publicly Traded Companies.

Impact

If enacted, HB 6373 would significantly alter the taxation framework for publicly traded companies in the state. The proposed tax rates are structured to increase with the pay ratio, ranging from 5% for a pay ratio of 25:1 or less, to a steep 25% for those exceeding a ratio of 250:1. This change would likely incentivize companies to reconsider their compensation structures, as higher pay disparity could lead to significantly higher tax liabilities. Overall, this bill reflects a growing trend to integrate social equity considerations into fiscal policy.

Summary

House Bill 6373 proposes a new approach to corporate taxation by establishing a pay ratio corporation income tax specifically for publicly traded companies. This bill aims to replace the current flat corporation income tax with a tiered tax structure that is based on the ratio of the highest paid employee's salary to the median salary among all employees within the corporation. By introducing this tax model, the bill intends to address income inequality and ensure that corporations contributing to the state's revenue do so in a manner reflective of their employee compensation practices.

Contention

There could be notable points of contention surrounding HB 6373, particularly regarding its implications for businesses and their operational models. Supporters may argue that the bill promotes equity and fairness in employee compensation, potentially leading to more balanced wage distributions across organizations. However, opponents might contend that such a tax structure could deter investment in the state or negatively affect job growth if companies choose to relocate to regions with more favorable tax policies. The discussions surrounding this bill may also touch upon how it may disproportionately impact small publicly traded companies versus larger corporations.