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HR 1584 105th Congress House

Tax Freedom for Families Act of 1997

Official title: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide all taxpayers with a 50 percent deduction for capital gains, to index the basis of certain capital assets… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide all taxpayers with a 50 percent deduction for capital gains, to index the basis of certain capital assets, to provide credits for families, to phase-out the estate and gift taxes, and for other purposes.

Introduced: May 13, 1997 See on congress.gov
Taxation AliensBusiness income taxCapital gains taxCommerce
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Corporation taxesCost of living adjustmentsEarningsEconomics and Public FinanceEstate taxFamiliesFinance and Financial SectorForeign Trade and International FinanceForeign corporationsGift taxHome ownershipHousing and Community DevelopmentHousing financeImmigrationIncome taxIndexing (Economic policy)Inheritance taxLabor and EmploymentLawLossesMarried peopleMutual fundsPartnershipsPersonal income taxReal estate investmentSmall businessStocksTax creditsTax deductionsTax exclusionTax ratesTaxation of foreign incomeTrusts and trusteesValuation
This bill died when the 105th Congress ended
It never became law before the 105th Congress (1997–1998) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 5, 1997
See H.R.2014.
May 13, 1997
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
May 13, 1997
Introduced in House
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 Latest action August 5, 1997

See H.R.2014.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Title I: Incentives for Capital Formation and Jobs Creation

Title II: Credits for Families

Title III: Phase-Out of Estate and Gift Taxes

Tax Freedom for Families Act of 1997 - Incentives for Capital Formation and Jobs Creation - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to replace current alternative tax for corporations provisions with provisions providing for a 50 percent capital gains deduction. Allows such deduction in computing adjusted gross income.

(Sec. 102) Substitutes the indexed basis, based on the "applicable inflation adjustment" (as defined), for the adjusted basis of assets held more than three years for purposes of determining gain or loss on the disposition of: (1) common stock in a C corporation; or (2) tangible property, which is a capital asset or property used in a trade or business. Sets forth special rules: (1) where there is a diminished risk of loss; (2) for short sales; (3) for regulated investment companies and real estate investment trusts; (4) for other pass-through entities; (5) for dispositions between related persons; (6) for transfers to increase the indexing adjustment; (7) for the sale of a principal residence; and (8) to cover other situations.

(Sec. 103) Permits a capital loss deduction with respect to the sale or exchange of a principal residence.

Title II: Credits for Families - Establishes a credit of $500 multiplied by the number of qualifying children (under the age of 18) of a taxpayer.

(Sec. 202) Establishes, in the case of a joint return, a credit equal to the marriage penalty reduction credit (as defined).

Title III: Phase-Out of Estate and Gift Taxes - Raises the estate and gift tax credit incrementally over a five-year period (through 2002).

(Sec. 302) Repeals, as of January 1, 2003, subtitle B of the IRC relating to transfer taxes and makes such repeal applicable to the estates of decedents dying, and gifts and generation-skipping transfers made on and after such date.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1584: Tax Freedom for Families Act of 1997. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-1584/
MLA
"H.R. 1584: Tax Freedom for Families Act of 1997." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-1584/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1584, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-1584/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1584: Tax Freedom for Families Act of 1997](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-1584/)
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