Professor Ventry Comments on Tax Liability for PolitiFact
Professor Dennis J. Ventry, Jr. commented on whether a decrease in tax credits amounts to a tax increase for PolitiFact, a website where journalists rank the truthfulness of statements by politicians, lobbyists, and interest groups. Professor Ventry was consulted by PolitiFact's editors as they sought to examine New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's claim that he has never raised taxes. Though Christie did not raise tax rates, he did cut funding for tax credit programs, the article notes.
"Tax credits reduce tax liability for eligible claimants. Thus, cutting, restricting, or repealing a tax credit for an otherwise eligible individual or business would -- absent other changes to the tax system such as a reduction in rates -- result in higher taxes owed," Ventry said.
Professor Ventry is an expert in tax policy and has written widely in the field. His research interests include family taxation, tax expenditure analysis, legal ethics and professional standards, tax and legal history, tax compliance and administration, and public finance.