Studies in History, Economics, and Public Law (Volume 27, Pts. 1-3) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1907. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... tion of tangible property employed in business. The taxation of intangible property has proved a failure in Massachusetts as elsewhere.1 III. The Working of the General Corporation Tax. --We return to the corporation tax and consider its operation. The tax on corporations gave general satisfaction from the outset," and for twenty-five years there was scarcely any complaint. The tax commissioners in their report, after the law had been in operation one year, showed that two hundred and eighty-two municipalities had benefited by the change, some very greatly, that only thirteen had suffered, and these only slightly. For the towns and cities a very large amount of taxable personalty, at least $6,000,000, had been added to the list by the more efficient mode of taxation. At the same time a considerable income had been made available for the state, where none had existed before, by retaining in the state treasury the tax on shares of non-residents.3 The tax did not have the effect of discouraging corporate enterprise, for there was an increase both in the number and in the capitalization of corporations.4 The value of the corporate shares taxed rose gradually, although it varied from year to year, as the value of corporate securities fluctuated with industrial conditions. In the forty years since 1865 the value of the shares taxed has increased more than fivefold, and the income accruing both to state and municipalities has grown like 1 Report of the Tax Commission, 1897, p. 67. Message of Governor Andrews, Jan. 6, 1865, in Mass. Acts and Resolves for 1865, pp. 734-735 'See Report of the Tax Commissioners in 1865, House Doc. 126, pp. 5, 6, 13, and appendix, and also the Report of the Tax Commissioner for 1865, pp. 44, 45, 48. 'See Report of the Tax Co...