H.R. 5298

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to impose a corporate tax rate increase on companies whose ratio of compensation of the CEO or other highest paid employee to median worker compensation is more than 50 to 1, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · September 11, 2025 · Sponsor: Ms. Tlaib · Committee: Committee on Ways and Means

Table of contents

• H.R. 5298
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Corporate tax increase based on compensation ratio

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as the Tax Excessive CEO Pay Act of 2025.

SEC. 2. Corporate tax increase based on compensation ratio

• (a) In general
  • of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: Section 11
    • (e) Tax increase based on pay ratio
      • (1) In general
        • (A) Increase imposed
          • In the case of any corporation (except as provided in subparagraph (B)(ii)(II)) the pay ratio of which is greater than 50 to 1 for a taxable year, the 21 percent rate under subsection (b) for such taxable year shall be increased by the penalty determined under paragraph (2).
        • (B) Pay ratio
          • For purposes of this subsection—
            • (i) The term pay ratio means the ratio described in section 229.402(u)(1)(iii) of title 17, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor thereto), except that—
            • such ratio shall be determined with respect to any taxable year using the annualized average of the compensation amounts described in such section during the 5-year period ending on the last day of the taxable year, and
            • if the highest compensated employee of the corporation is not the principal executive officer, the ratio shall be determined based on the compensation of such highest compensated employee.
            • (ii) In the case of a corporation which (without regard to this clause) is not subject to the authorities described in section 229.10(a) of title 17, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor thereto)—
            • If the average annual gross receipts of such corporation for the 3-taxable-year period ending with the taxable year which precedes such taxable year are at least $100,000,000, such corporation shall calculate and report its pay ratio according to the method which the Secretary shall prescribe by regulations consistent with the regulation described in clause (i).
            • Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to any such corporation if the average annual gross receipts of such corporation for the 3-taxable-year period ending with the taxable year which precedes such taxable year are less than $100,000,000.
      • (2) Amount of penalty
        • The penalty determined under this paragraph is an increase, expressed in percentage points, determined in accordance with the following table:
• (b) Conforming amendments
  • The following sections of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 are each amended by inserting after :
    • Section 280C(c)(2)(B)(ii)(II).
    • Paragraphs (2)(B) and (6)(A)(ii) of section 860E(e).
    • Section 7874(e)(1)(B).
  • Section 852(b)(3)(A) of such Code is amended by inserting after .
  • Paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 1445(e) of such Code are each amended by striking in effect for the taxable year under section 11(b)and inserting applicable to such corporation under section 11 for the taxable year.
  • Section 1446(b)(2)(B) of such Code is amended by striking specified in section 11(b)and inserting applicable to such corporation under section 11 for the taxable year.
• (c) Effective date
  • The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.
• (d) Regulations
  • The Secretary of the Treasury (or the Secretary's delegate) shall issue regulations as necessary to prevent avoidance of the purposes of the amendments made by subsection (a), including regulations to prevent the manipulation of the compensation ratio under of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 by changes to the composition of the workforce (including by using the services of contractors rather than employees). section 11(e)