Tax Archaeology

Tax Stories, Foundation Press, 2d ed., 2009

U of Cincinnati Public Law Research Paper No. 09-27

17 Pages Posted: 13 Oct 2009

See all articles by Paul L. Caron

Paul L. Caron

Pepperdine University - Rick J. Caruso School of Law

Multiple version iconThere are 3 versions of this paper

Date Written: October 1, 2009

Abstract

This paper provides an overview and introduction of the second edition of the Tax Stories book, which unpacks ten seminal U.S. Supreme Court federal income tax cases, as well as a recent decision of the U.S. Court of Appelas for the District of Columbia Circuit. Each of the chapters sets forth the social, factual, and legal background of the case, discusses the various court proceedings and judicial opinions, and explores the immediate impact and continuing importance of the case. The University of Cincinnati School of Law's companion web site contains the complete record of the case, including the court opinions, briefs of the parties and amicus curiae, and oral arguments (audiotapes and transcripts, where available).

The paper discusses the concept behind the book, the criteria for selecting the eleven leading cases, and the doctrinal and institutional lessons drawn from the cases. Along the way, the paper explores the pedagogical impetus behind such an archaeological approach. The paper is critical of the performance of the courts and of the government in these cases. But in the end, the fault may lie not in the judges and lawyers for supplying the wrong answers but rather in the Administrations and Congresses that created a tax system that inevitably asks the wrong questions. Until fundamental reform of our income tax becomes more than a chimera, Tax Stories will remain without a happy ending.

Keywords: Tax, Income Tax, Tax Policy, Tax Litigation, Tax Administration, Tax Procedure, Legal History

JEL Classification: K34

Suggested Citation

Caron, Paul L., Tax Archaeology (October 1, 2009). Tax Stories, Foundation Press, 2d ed., 2009, U of Cincinnati Public Law Research Paper No. 09-27, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1484698 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1484698

Paul L. Caron (Contact Author)

Pepperdine University - Rick J. Caruso School of Law ( email )

24255 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, CA 90263
United States
310.506.4266 (Phone)

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
264
Abstract Views
3,963
Rank
83,855
PlumX Metrics