The Oxford Introductions to U.S. Law Income Tax Law [Paperback]

InThe Oxford Introductions to U.S. Law: Income Tax Law, Edward McCaffery presents an accessible introduction to the major topics in the field of federal income taxation, such as income, deductions, and recognition of gains and losses. After discussing central rules and doctrines individually, Edward McCaffery offers a very sophisticated yet clear explanation of the interplay among them, carefully describing how they work together to carry out the policy goals of the U.S. tax system.

Professor McCaffery describes, for example, how the current income tax in the United States has increasingly become a wage tax that favors those with capital rather than those whose money comes from labor. In explaining the consequences of tax policy on individuals, he also considers important possible alternatives for income taxation in the U.S.

The Oxford Introductions to U.S. Law: Income Tax Lawsets forth the 'who,' 'what,' 'when,' and 'why' of income tax law and describes the essential concepts of the field in a clear and concise manner that helps students and non-experts increase their understanding of the policies behind modern tax law and the ways in which these policies affect different types of individuals.

1: A View of the Forest
2: The What of Tax, Part I
3. What of Taxation, Part II
4. The When of Taxation: Timing with a Capital and Lower Case
5. The Who of Taxation: Questions of Attribution and the Appropriate Filing Unit
6. The How Much of Taxation: Characterization of Ordinary
7. A Summary, of Sorts: Anatomy of a Tax Shelter
8. The Once and Future Tax System

This is a really excellent guide to U.S. income tax that combines a powerful theoretical scaffolding with attention to important practical details. Ed McCaffery has the flair to explain clearly and entertainingly both the forest and the trees of our ill-functioning system. I will definitely recommend it to my students.
- Daniel N. Shavirló#