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The text of the bill below is as of Sep 9, 2019 (Introduced). The bill was not enacted into law.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 9, 2019
Mr. Merkley introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to impose a surtax on corporations with significant disparities in employee wages.
This Act may be cited as the Fair Share for Workers Act .
Surtax on corporations with significant disparity in employee wages
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:
Surtax on corporations with significant disparity in employee wages
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.
For purposes of this section, the term means any corporation which—
has gross revenue for the taxable year in excess of $1,000,000,000, and
has a wage disparity level in excess of 3,000 percent.
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 percent | 2% |
| Over 5,000 percent but not over 10,000 percent | 3% |
| Over 10,000 percent but not over 20,000 percent | 4% |
| Over 20,000 percent but not over 50,000 percent | 5% |
| Over 50,000 percent but not over 100,000 percent | 6% |
| Over 100,000 percent | 10%. |
Wage disparity level
For purposes of this section—
The term 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.
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.
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.
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.
The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2019.
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