I'm going to throw a curve ball from left field here that's likely to get a lot of a down votes, but I think it should be said anyways.
What if corporations weren't taxed (at least based on income)?
It's a crazy idea to many, I know, especially with the prevailing "companies are evil" mindset. I find the fact that corporations get taxed, and then the people working for the corporations get taxed, akin to double dipping the same pot. You're essentially taking the same revenue source and then taxing it twice; once for the profit the company makes, and then a second time when you pay the employee that helped earn that corporate profit. It's a bit absurd.
Hypothetically speaking, if a company were not taxed it would have more cash on hand to spend for a variety of purposes. Realistically that company would sit on the cash for some time before using it, but when they do use it, the following scenarios are possible:
1) They give their executives or employees more money; the IRS gets more income tax
2) They spend the money to expand the business through acquisition, equipment, whatnot. This makes the company more competitive, and thus in the long run, generates more revenue. The short term benefit is that they spent the money on another company, thus again gaining revenue for the IRS (eventually).
3) They give the money to the shareholders via dividends. Again, the IRS gets some money.
The reason US businesses are moving overseas (first down south) is because the cost of maintaining large sites in the US is turning borderline absurd, which is combination of federal, local, and state taxes. It's not just the labor differential; that gap is narrowing monthly. For example, Merck and Co. are building a billion dollar center in China, where they plan to move their entire R&D division. Is it because the labor is cheaper or more qualified? Nope. The combined corporate tax (federal income, local income, state income, state property, local property, school district tax, etc) is too high to make a large plant cost viable anymore, at least in certain parts of the country.
Most companies don't pay full taxes anyways. Why not remove corporate tax from all levels in order to make the US a more competitive environment (globally)?
As a disclaimer, I am not Republican, Democratic, or have any party affiliation. I also favor a flat tax and simplified tax system, a flat personal capital gains tax, and a flat dividends tax.