Ensuring Better Interest Treatment and Deductibility Act (EBITDA)

WHAT HAPPENED: Representative Ron Estes (R-KS) introduced HR8101 on March 26, 2026, the Ensuring Better Interest Treatment and Deductibility Act (EBITDA). The bill amends Section 163(j) of the Internal Revenue Code by repealing the 2022 modification (Sec. 163(j)(8)(A)(vi) as amended by Public Law 119-21) that changed the adjusted taxable income (ATI) cap from 30% of EBITDA to 30% of EBIT. The effective date is taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025 — meaning immediate applicability for calendar-year companies in 2026. The bill has been referred to the House Ways and Means Committee, where the sponsor serves (Estes is a committee member), and an identical companion bill S4221 has been read twice and referred to the Senate Finance Committee, indicating a coordinated bicameral effort.

MONEY TRAIL: This bill does not appropriate or authorize direct government spending. Its mechanism is a tax expenditure reduction — lowering corporate tax liabilities by expanding the allowable interest expense deduction. The Joint Committee on Taxation would score this as a revenue loss (reducing tax collections), not a spending increase. The tax benefit flows directly to corporate taxpayers via reduced tax bills, not through government contracts or grants. There is no appropriation step; the provision is self-executing upon enactment. The 14 cosponsors are all Republicans on the Ways and Means Committee, showing committee-level support but a likely partisan path to passage.

STRUCTURAL WINNERS: The companies most affected are those with (1) high leverage relative to equity, (2) capital-intensive operations generating large depreciation/amortization, and (3) significant net interest expense. Telecoms AT&T ($T) and Verizon ($VZ) are the strongest beneficiaries — both carry over $130B in net debt with annual D&A exceeding $18B and $20B respectively. The EBITDA vs. EBIT difference is enormous for spectrum-heavy companies. Automakers General Motors ($GM) and Ford ($F) benefit similarly from manufacturing asset bases. Tower REIT American Tower ($AMT) benefits at the taxable subsidiary level. Banks ($BAC, , $WFC) benefit indirectly as their corporate borrowers' debt service capacity improves, reducing credit risk across C&I and leveraged lending portfolios — a positive for net interest margins and provision expense. All financial stocks show positive 7-day momentum (WFC +3.17%, BAC +2.59%, JPM +1.38%) with stable closing trends in the $52-54 range for BAC and $308-317 for JPM over the past two weeks.

AUTOS DIVERGENCE: GM ($76.71) and Ford ($11.86) show contrasting recent trends — GM is down 1.72% in the past 7 days and Ford is down 4.2%. Both are trading below their 30-day highs (GM near $81, Ford near $12.87 on April 17). While the EBITDA Act would benefit both, the immediate price action reflects broader auto sector headwinds (inventory, EV adoption pace) rather than tax policy. The bill's benefit for GM and Ford is structural and long-dated, not a near-term catalyst.

TIMELINE & PROBABILITY: The bill is in very early stages — referred to committee but not yet marked up. The 2026 midterm election cycle adds urgency; tax legislation typically moves in larger reconciliation packages rather than standalone bills. Given the Republican control of the House and the bipartisan interest in reversing the 2022 ATI change (the original TCJA provision was EBITDA-based), there is plausible legislative path in a year-end tax extenders package or 2027 reconciliation. The effective date of January 1, 2026 means retroactive application is necessary — this increases complexity but does not kill the bill. Passage probability is moderate (~30-40% within 18 months), supported by the companion Senate bill and sponsor seniority (Estes is on the tax-writing committee).