S. 2312 — Introduced in Senate

II 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2312 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 30, 2019 Mr. Merkley introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to impose a surtax on corporations with significant disparities in employee wages. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Equity in Compensation Act. 2. Surtax on corporations with significant disparity in employee wages (a) In general Part II of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by redesignating section 12 as section 13 and by inserting after section 11 the following new section: 12. Surtax on corporations with significant disparity in employee wages (a) In general In the case of an applicable corporation, there is hereby imposed (in addition to any other tax imposed by this subtitle) a tax equal to the applicable percentage of taxable income. (b) Applicable corporation For purposes of this section, the term applicable corporation means any corporation which— (1) has gross revenue for the taxable year in excess of $1,000,000,000, and (2) has a wage disparity level in excess of 3,000 percent. (c) Applicable percentage For purpose of this section, the applicable percentage shall be determined as follows: In the case of an applicable corporation with a wage disparity level that is—The applicable percentage is— Over 3,000 percent but not over 5,000 percent2 Over 5,000 percent but not over 10,000 percent3 Over 10,000 percent but not over 20,000 percent4 Over 20,000 percent but not over 50,000 percent5 Over 50,000 percent but not over 100,000 percent6 Over 100,000 percent10. (d) Wage disparity level For purposes of this section— (1) In general The term wage disparity level means the ratio (expressed as a percentage) of the annual salary of highest compensated officer of the corporation to the median annual salary of all employees of the corporation. (2) Determination of annual salary The annual salary of any officer or employee shall be determined by taking into account the wages (within the meaning of section 3121(a), but determined without regard to any dollar limitation contained in such section) paid to such officer or employee for services performed during the taxable year. In the case of any officer or employee who is not employed for the entire taxable year, the wages paid for such taxable year shall be increased by an amount equal to the product of the average daily wages paid to such employees for the number of days during the taxable year during which such employee was employed and the number of days during the taxable year during which such employee was not so employed. (e) Exceptions; treatment of foreign corporations Rules similar to the rules of subsections (c) and (d) of section 11 shall apply for purposes of this section. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections for part II of subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by redesignating the item relating to section 12 as relating to section 13 and by inserting after the item relating to section 11 the following new item: Sec. 12. Surtax on corporations with significant disparity in employee wages. . (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2019.