Congress Giveth and Congress Taketh Away: The Slow Death of the SESOP

Beckett G. Cantley, Congress Giveth and Congress Taketh Away: The Slow Death of the SESOP, 20 Akron Tax. J. 59 (2005).

Summary.  This article discusses the cat and mouse game that had taken place between the IRS and tax planners surrounding the use of the SESOP.  The article outlines how the SESOP has been a very rich source of tax gamesmanship since its inception.  However, while Congress and the IRS have been very effective at closing all the perceived loopholes used by tax planners, they have equally been extremely adept at dismantling the SESOP as a viable planning vehicle for the average small family business.