This article describes generic forces creating uniformity and diversity in state corporate income taxes, examines several episodes in the evolution of these taxes to determine how uniformity--or the lack thereof--came about, and discusses whether the Uniform Division of Income for Tax Purposes Act is likely to be revised to make it more sensible and more comprehensive. The episodes examined involve the definition of income, the choice of methods of dividing income among the states, jurisdiction to tax, apportionment formulas, and combination of the activities of related entities. The article does not discuss harmonization of tax rates.
INTRODUCTION
Uniformity in taxation can ...