Does Donald Trump’s tax plan really hold ‘little benefit’ for the wealthy?

Nothing brings out smoke and mirrors like a tax overhaul plan, especially one as incomplete as President Donald Trump‘s.

A look at some of the claims emerging from the debate sparked by the plan released Wednesday:

Trump: “I think there’s very little benefit for people of wealth.” – to reporters Wednesday

The facts: Actually there’s a clear and substantial benefit for people of super wealth: the proposal to eliminate the estate tax. Under current law, the first $11 million of an estate is exempt for a married couple, meaning only the wealthiest Americans pay it. Those super-rich would be off the hook. Also, business owners who report business income on their individual returns – as most do – would see their top tax rate drop to 25 per cent from 39.6 per cent.

WATCH: Trump says his new tax plan ‘isn’t good for me, believe me’

1:14 Trump says his new tax plan ‘isn’t good for me, believe me’

Some of Trump’s claim rests with the administration’s own unique accounting. The administration has said it isn’t including the estate tax when making calculations about which income groups would benefit from the plan. Nor is it clear how Trump officials are weighing the benefits of the lower corporate taxes – which would primarily help investors.

More generally, the plan has so many holes – left for Congress to fill in – that a full picture of who gains the most cannot be drawn at the outset. The plan could well benefit both the rich and the middle class, at the cost of national debt, but that remains to be seen.

READ MORE: Trump proposes massive tax cuts, says he won’t personally benefit

Trump: As Indiana governor, Mike Pence “signed the largest income tax cut in the state’s history.” – Indiana speech introducing the plan

The facts: True, but it wasn’t much of a cut.

The measure the vice-president signed into law as Indiana governor in 2013 took effect in stages, gradually lowering the state’s income tax rate to 3.23 per cent this year from 3.4 per cent.

That amounts to about $85 in savings a year for someone making $50,000 in taxable income, according to data from Purdue University economist Larry DeBoer, who has studied Indiana tax policy for about 30 years.

WATCH: Trump says tax reform plan will feature only three separate tax rates

1:31 Trump says tax reform plan will feature only three separate tax rates

The only other income tax cut in state history was a 0.1 percentage point reduction in the 1970s, according to DeBoer’s data. That rate was raised during the 1980s to 3.4 per cent – where it remained until Pence won the new cuts.

Overall, Pence’s income tax cut is far from the biggest tax cut in Indiana history. Statewide caps on property taxes enacted under Pence’s predecessor as governor, Mitch Daniels, cut much more.

READ MORE: Donald Trump’s popularity in Canada stumbles to new low: poll

Sen. Chuck Schumer, Senate Democratic leader: “Each of those proposals would result in a massive windfall for the wealthiest Americans and provide almost no relief to middle-class taxpayers who need it the most.” – Senate remarks

The facts: “Each” is a stretch, given the scarcity of detail. He’s referring to the proposed elimination of the estate tax, rate cuts on the top tier and on business income reported on personal returns, and an increase in the lowest income tax rate.

But he’s playing without all the cards, just as Trump does when making the opposite argument that the rich won’t benefit. The income levels at which the new tax rates would apply are not specified and there are no credible distribution tables showing how various income groups would fare.

WATCH: Trump says Americans will be able to file taxes on one sheet of paper

1:18 Trump says Americans will be able to file taxes on one sheet of paper

Middle-income people could benefit substantially from lower tax rates and a near doubling of the standard deduction to $12,000 for individuals and $24,000 for families. But they might not, because they would lose many deductions. It depends in large measure on how the tax tables are drawn.

WATCH: Steve Mnuchin says Trump’s tax plan based on creating ‘economic growth’

3:10 Mnuchin says Trump’s tax plan based on creating ‘economic growth’

Trump on the estate tax: “The farmers in particular are affected.” – Indiana speech

The facts: That assertion appears to be at odds with statistics. Only 1.7 per cent of family-farm estates were required to file an estate-tax return in 2016 and only 0.4 per cent ended up owing the tax, according to an analysis by the Agriculture Department. Overall, the very rich are affected in particular.