Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy

Alaska

ITEP Work in Action  

ITEP’s Andrew Boardman: The State of Local Taxes in Alaska

October 1, 2023 • By Andrew Boardman

In late September, ITEP Local Policy Analyst Andrew Boardman presented on the state of local taxes in Alaska to the Presentation at the Alaska Municipal League 2023 Tax Conference. Click here for the slide deck.

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Income Tax Discussion Continues in Alaska

February 24, 2021 • By Carl Davis

Alaska is notoriously reliant on tax and royalty revenue from oil to fund vital public services and institutions, but declining oil prices and production levels have rendered those revenues inadequate to meet the state’s needs. ITEP analysis of potential state income tax options in Alaska shows the potential to raise between $526 million and $696 million per year yet are quite modest compared to personal income tax structures in other states. When measured relative to state residents’ incomes, any of these options would rank among the bottom five lowest state income taxes in the nation.

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Comparing Flat-Rate Income Tax Options for Alaska

February 24, 2021 • By Carl Davis

Alaska lawmakers are facing an unprecedented fiscal crisis. The state is more dependent than any other on oil tax and royalty revenues but declines in oil prices and production levels have sapped much of the vitality of these revenue sources. One way of diversifying the state’s revenue stream and narrowing the yawning gap between state revenues and expenses would be to reinstitute a statewide personal income tax. Alaska previously levied such a tax until 1980. This report contains ITEP’s analysis of the distributional impact and revenue potential of a variety of flat-rate income tax options for Alaska, based on draft…

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Voters Have the Chance in 2020 to Increase Tax Equity in Arizona, Illinois, and California, And They Should

October 22, 2020 • By Marco Guzman

There’s a lot at stake in this election cycle: the nation and our economy are reeling from the effects brought on by the coronavirus pandemic and states remain in limbo as they weigh deep budget cuts and rush to address projected revenue shortfalls.

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Talking Taxes in Alaska

March 6, 2020 • By Carl Davis

Alaska’s tax system underwent major changes in the 1970s when oil was found at Prudhoe Bay. Lawmakers repealed the state’s personal income tax (making Alaska the only state ever to do so) and began balancing the state’s budget primarily with oil tax and royalty revenue instead. But as oil prices and production levels have declined, a yawning gap has opened between state revenues and the cost of providing vital public services.

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State Rundown 11/29: Thanksgiving Leftovers Edition

November 29, 2017 • By .ITEP Staff

The State Rundown is back from Thanksgiving break with a heaping helping of leftover state tax news, but beware, some of it may be rotten.

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State Rundown 8/2: Legislative Tax Debates Wind Down as Ballot Initiative Efforts Ramp Up

August 2, 2017 • By .ITEP Staff

Budget deliberations continue in earnest this week in Alaska, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. In South Dakota and Utah, the focus is on gearing up for ballot initiative efforts to raise needed revenue, though be sure to read about legislators nullifying voter-approved initiatives in Maine and elsewhere in our "what we're reading" section.

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State Rundown 7/11: Some Legislatures Get Long Holiday Weekends, Others Work Overtime

July 11, 2017 • By .ITEP Staff

Illinois and New Jersey made national news earlier this month after resolving their contentious budget stalemates. But they weren’t the only states working through (and in some cases after) the holiday weekend to resolve budget issues.

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State Rundown 6/28: States Scramble to Finish Budgets Before July Deadlines

June 28, 2017 • By .ITEP Staff

This week, several states attempt to wrap up their budget debates before new fiscal years (and holiday vacations) begin in July. Lawmakers reached at least short-term agreement on budgets in Alaska, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, but such resolution remains elusive in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Wisconsin.