In this episode of the GILTI Conscience podcast, Loren Ponds, Member at Miller & Chevalier in Washington, D.C., joins our hosts to share an overview of the tax legislative process. She discusses the outlook for current tax bills moving through the house and how changes and feedback are incorporated.

Over the past two decades, most of the major tax legislation has gone through a reconciliation process where the bills start in the house. The review procedure includes a scoring process to ensure the bill will not increase the deficit before it can be passed. 

Feedback also plays an important role in shaping the final version of a tax bill. Bills can be improved by inviting taxpayers to share the real-world implications of a change. In addition, asking the advisor taxpayer community to share critical feedback, with a clearly defined scope can be very helpful. 

Predicting all of the fact patterns that might apply to a certain bill is impossible, but collecting feedback can help anticipate more of them, making a bill more comprehensive before it is passed. 

Tax bills are gaining in popularity and controversy thanks to increased coverage from the media. This means more attention is given to how politicians approach tax legislation. This attention often focuses on how both sides of the aisle collaborate on tax policies that are easier to agree on, such as international tax provisions.  

So how does this affect current legislation and how will Congress review the Build Back Better Act amongst the many pressing issues on their agenda? 

Episode guest Loren explains, “There are a lot of other things that are on Congress's agenda besides tax. That said, the Build Back Better Act has some spending provisions that are a very high priority to the current administration.”

💡 Featured Guest 💡

Name: Loren Ponds

What she does: As a Tax Member at Miller & Chevalier, Loren centers her practice on providing strategic counsel to clients on legislative, regulatory, and other tax policy issues, as well as advising on technical tax matters related to transfer pricing and other international tax topics. She also co-hosts the podcast tax break with her colleague, Steve Dixon.

Organization: Miller & Chevalier

Words of wisdom: “When there's legislation on tap, if you are adversely impacted by the provision, make your position known. It may not change the outcome, but at least you're participating in the process.” 

Connect: LinkedIn

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GILTI Conscience is a podcast by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, and Affiliates. Skadden’s tax team is recognized globally for providing clients with creative and innovative solutions to their most pressing transactional, planning, and controversy challenges. This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended and should not be construed as legal advice. This podcast is considered advertising under applicable state laws.