The Tax Reform Act of 1986: Its Impact on Pennsylvania Farmers

The Tax Reform Act of 1986 was studied to determine its short-run impact on Pennsylvania farmers. For the 3,059 farms studied, the average increase in total tax obligation resulting from the TRA of 1986 was $446 per farm, or a 48 percent increase in federal income taxes actually paid in 1984. Differences in impact were found across farms categorized by commodity type. Egg producers were most severely impacted, while beef cattle producers least affected. In general, the increase in adjusted gross income was due to the loss of 60 percent exclusion on capital gain income