Professor Ventry Quoted on Candidate's Tax Statements in Tax Notes

Professor Dennis Ventry is quoted in a Tax Notes article on the tax policy statements of former Senator Jim Webb of Virginia, a 2016 Democratic presidential candidate. Webb has made statements about wanting to shift the nation's tax burden toward passive or investment income, yet also advocated for a consumption-based tax system. Professor Ventry pointed out that these policies are contradictory.

"A consumption-based national tax system, at least the variants that have dominated discussion in the United States for the last 30 to 40 years, cannot be squared with wanting to shift more of the tax burden to investment income," said Ventry.

"Moving from an income tax to a consumption tax [system] shifts the burden of taxation from individuals who can afford to save and invest -- and have the option to consume as an alternative -- to individuals who must consume their income for subsistence," Ventry added.

Professor Ventry is an expert in tax policy and legal ethics. His research interests include tax expenditure analysis, family taxation, professional responsibility and standards of care, tax filing and administration, tax compliance, public finance, and tax and legal history. In addition, he was recently added as a co-author on the casebook, Federal Income Taxation with Paul McDaniel, Martin McMahon, Jr., and Daniel L. Simmons.