The estimated federal budget deficit for the first nine months of fiscal 2012 is $66 billion lower than for the corresponding period in 2011, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office said Monday.
The deficit through June is estimated to be $905 billion, down from $971 billion last year.
CBO said the main reason for the change is an increase in tax revenue. Corporate tax revenue grew by $42 billion, largely because tax rules on deductions for investment in equipment were changed, CBO said.
Revenue from individual taxes grew by $26 billion and social insurance tax receipts such as from payroll taxes grew by $17 billion.
The budgetary benefits from this increased revenue was offset by a 1 percent increase in spending.
The increase is due to more outlays for the bank bailout. Spending on the Troubled Asset Relief Program grew by $62 billion through June.
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