Senate Republicans Have a Tax They’d Like to Nearly Double

Wall Street has plenty to be happy about in the tax bill — with the exception of a new tax on third-party litigation.

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., is seen in the U.S. Capitol.
Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via AP

Senate Republicans are wading into a growing multi-billion-dollar industry in their reconciliation bill with a new tax that’s backed by major business groups.

The Senate Finance Committee tax proposal released Monday evening includes a tax on profits from investing in litigation. Republicans normally hate raising taxes, but the provision could almost double the tax on third-party litigation earnings from 21% to nearly 41%.

“Third-party litigation funding,” or TPLF, refers to the money from someone not involved in a case — often hedge funds, foreign sovereign wealth funds, wealthy individuals and other investors, according to a 2022 Government Accountability Office report — that is invested in a lawsuit in exchange for a cut of the potential settlement or award.