Dividend and Capital Gains Taxation Under Incomplete Markets

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Motivated by the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act (JGTRRA) of 2003, we study the effects of capital income tax cuts in an economy with heterogeneous households and a representative, mature firm. Dividend tax cuts, contrary to capital gains tax cuts, lead to a decrease in investment and capital. This is because they increase the market value of existing capital and households require a higher return to hold this additional wealth. In line with empirical evidence, the model predicts substantial increases in dividends and stock prices. Overall, the tax cuts lead to a welfare reduction equivalent to a consumption drop of 0.5%.