9th Circuit ruling against Washington state couple could mean more federal wealth taxes

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – A recent ruling by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals against a Redmond, Wash., couple challenging the mandatory repatriation tax could open the door to all manner of wealth taxes, a lawyer representing the couple said.

Charles and Kathleen Moore sued the government in 2019, arguing a tax on repatriated assets – created as part of major tax reform legislation passed by Congress in 2017 – violates the U.S. Constitution’s apportionment clause and the Fifth Amendment’s due process clause.

The Moores claim the MRT violates the Constitution’s requirement that direct federal ta...