Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy

ITEP's Research Priorities

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: States Should Reverse Course on Defunding Public Education Through Private School Vouchers and Property Tax Cuts

June 5, 2024

During this year’s legislative sessions, at least one in three states are considering or have enacted school voucher expansions alongside broad, untargeted property tax cuts. Over half of states have already enacted deep personal and corporate income tax cuts in the last three years. These policies will result in under-resourced public schools, worse student outcomes, and, over time, weaker communities.

Colorado General Assembly: HB24-1311 Family Affordability Tax Credit

May 31, 2024

Gov. Polis of Colorado signed the bill expanding its Child Tax Credit, which cites ITEP’s research on the second page of the bill text. Read the bill and its status.

Governing: Are Florida Taxes Low? It Depends on Your Income Level

May 28, 2024

It’s been almost a hundred years since Florida eliminated its personal income tax. Not taxing income contributes to its reputation as a low-tax state and is part of the draw for retirees. But of course Floridians do pay taxes and the state’s system leads to some inequities, according to a new report from a progressive organization.

International Journal of Economics, Business and Management Research: The U.S. Federal and State Tax Simplification and Reform for Senior Citizens

May 21, 2024

The U.S. Federal and many State Governments provide social security tax deductions, either partial or all, for senior citizens. However, tax systems still require those whose incomes exceed standard deductions to report and calculate their income taxes. Usually, senior citizen's income sources are from social security benefits, 401K retirement funds, IRA, annuities, pensions, and/or others. This paper provides a linear tax rate and tax formula to simplify federal and state social security and retirement taxes compared with the existing complicated tax calculation systems. This research also provides a reform proposal to combine all taxable incomes for qualified seniors who have…

Democrats: President Biden Delivers for Wisconsin While Trump Backs Billionaires Over Working Families

May 21, 2024

Today, President Biden’s visit to Racine, Wisconsin will underscore how his economic agenda is uplifting Wisconsin families by creating good-paying jobs, cutting costs, and building the middle class. Just last week, Trump spent his short time in Wisconsin lying about President Biden’s economic wins, because he knows that his only defense against President Biden’s successful record is to lie in a desperate attempt to hide how he failed Wisconsin families.

Senate Committee on the Budget: Extending Trump Tax Cuts Would Add $4.6 Trillion to the Deficit, CBO Finds

May 21, 2024

According to the latest report by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), extending the Trump tax cuts for the next 10 years—as Republicans have proposed—would add $4.6 trillion to the deficit.

Yahoo Finance: Jeff Bezos Spent $237 Million On Florida Mansions — Billionaires Flock To ‘Upside Down’ Tax Haven Where Rich Pay Less Than Poor

May 20, 2024

The Sunshine State has become a magnet for billionaires seeking tax relief. Among the latest to join the trend is Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who has recently expanded his real estate holdings in Miami’s exclusive Billionaire Bunker area. Bezos’ acquisitions include three properties, bringing his total investment in the neighborhood to $237 million.

Forbes: California Is Not Actually a High-Tax State According To New Study

May 17, 2024

Depending on where you fall on the income scale, California may not actually be that high tax of a state. For many in the middle class and below, California may let you keep more of your hard-earned income than many other states, according to a new study, “Who Pays” from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP). While California has the highest marginal tax rate in the nation at 13.3%, only some households pay this rate on their income. That doesn’t stop so-called low-tax states like Texas and Florida from blasting the tax policy of the Golden State.

Bipartisan Policy Center: Credit Where Credit’s Due: Engaging State and Local Governments in Refundable Tax Credit Design and Administration

May 16, 2024

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC) are two of the most effective anti-poverty tools in the United States, helping to boost household economic security while incentivizing work for millions of Americans each year. Over the past three years in particular, attention increased on the interactions between state and federal tax policy as states grappled with the EITC’s and the CTC’s rapid temporary expansion, as well as changes to complementary federal policies and programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Changes at the federal level to these two credits highlighted critical challenges facing policymakers and the public…

Hawai’i Public Radio: Concerns Rise for Low-Income Families Over Legislature’s Recent Tax Cut Measure

May 16, 2024

Most Hawaiʻi residents will likely see lower income taxes next year due to a measure recently passed by the state Legislature. However, some advocates are concerned that those changes could also limit tax assistance for those who need it the most. Lawmakers are calling it the biggest tax cut in the state’s history: about $5 billion over the next five years.

WTAE: Commitment 2024: Fact-checking Former President Trump’s Claims in Interview

May 13, 2024

PITTSBURGH — During an interview with WTAE's sister station WGAL, former President Donald Trump made claims of getting record-breaking votes in Pennsylvania's 2024 primary, about the future of abortion in the courts, and concerning who benefited most from his tax cuts.

Center for American Progress: The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Failed To Deliver Promised Benefits

May 1, 2024

The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) made sweeping changes to America’s tax laws. Signed into law by then-President Donald Trump and approved with only Republican support in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, the TCJA permanently slashed corporate tax rates and changed the way the nation taxes the profits of U.S. multinational corporations.1 It also temporarily cut personal income and estate taxes, changes that largely benefited the wealth.

ThinkTennessee: Tennessee’s Working Families Are Paying More Than Their Fair Share of Taxes

April 29, 2024

A new fact sheet released today by nonpartisan think tank ThinkTennessee finds that while Tennessee has one of the lowest overall tax burdens in the nation, its low-income families face a higher effective tax rate than both wealthier families and businesses. The analysis comes on the heels of Tax Day when millions of individual income tax returns are due to be submitted to the federal government.

NewsRadio WFLA: Poorest Floridians Taxed at Higher Rate than Richest Californians

April 24, 2024

Florida Policy Institute (FPI) and the Institute for Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) released a study today that found California’s tax system is fairer than Florida’s.

Liberation in a Generation: Separate & Unequal: Transforming Our Tax Code to Deliver a Liberation Economy

April 22, 2024

The tax exclusions, exemptions, deductions, and credits in the U.S. tax code aimed at helping all individuals and families build economic security instead provided $1.2 trillion in support to mostly wealthy white households. The U.S. tax code was intended to more evenly collect and distribute the aggregate resources of our nation to care for all, over the course of its 111-year existence, this system has been molded by wealthy, largely white, elites and our policymakers into a wealth-hoarding mechanism for the nation’s most privileged people seeking to amass obscene levels of wealth.

Scholars Strategy Network: Tax Policy as a Potential Tool for Reducing Infant Mortality

April 17, 2024

Increased tax revenues and increased tax progressivity need to be further explored as policy solutions in Illinois. More specifically, the adoption of worldwide combined reporting and a state-level child tax credit, could help prevent infant deaths in our state.

New Jersey Policy Perspective: New Immigrants Drive Economic Growth in New Jersey

April 15, 2024

New Jersey’s fundamental strength lies in the rich tapestry of people who call the Garden State home, reflecting a diverse range of cultures and backgrounds. Nearly one in four residents (2.2 million) are immigrants,[i] who play a pivotal role in shaping the state’s identity. Immigrants bring a wealth of skills and talents that enrich New Jersey’s arts, cuisine, and entertainment, add to the intellectual achievements across various fields, and play essential roles in the private and public sectors. Across the state, immigrants make significant contributions to their local communities and the broader economy through their labor, entrepreneurial endeavors, and tax contributions.

The Atlantic: The Myth of the Mobile Millionaire

April 15, 2024

In 2010, as California was moving forward with plans to raise taxes sharply on million-dollar earners, opponents issued dire warnings that the hike would drive away entrepreneurs and cripple the state economy. “There’s nothing more portable than a millionaire and his money,” warned the ranking Republican on the state Senate’s budget committee. The tax hike passed anyway—and California’s share of the nation’s million-dollar earners actually grew, reaching 18 percent in 2021. (Californians make up just less than 12 percent of the overall population.) And yet, when California recently considered a proposal to impose a wealth tax on mega-rich households, even some Democrats echoed the same…

Yahoo Finance: US Cities’ Mansion Taxes See Mixed Results

April 15, 2024

When Los Angeles voters approved an extra tax last year on home sales over $5 million, officials projected annual revenue of $700 million to help alleviate the city's rampant homelessness crisis.

The American Prospect: The $6 Trillion Decision

April 15, 2024

Enormous amounts of presidential election messaging and coverage will unfurl between now and November 5. You will surely hear a lot about abortion, immigration, and inflation. You will hear about a fight for the future of American democracy. Even more likely, you’ll hear about polls, strategies to attract working-class and minority voters, or what one candidate said or tweeted or posted, or designated a surrogate to say or tweet or post. Oh, and court cases. Lots and lots of court cases. What you might not hear as much about are the stakes of the election’s outcome for all the money…

The Lever: Pfizer’s Massive Tax Dodge

April 15, 2024

While jacking up drug prices, Pfizer recently reported more than $27 billion in revenue from its U.S. sales in 2023. But the Big Pharma titan owes nothing in federal income taxes, despite being one of the most profitable pharmaceutical companies in the world. That’s largely thanks to existing loopholes and a 2017 tax law signed by former President Donald Trump.

Maine Center for Economic Policy: Tax Fairness — an Explainer

April 15, 2024

Taxes help pay for things that benefit everyone, like good schools, clean air and water, and safe roads. Businesses also need these things to succeed, along with a healthy, housed, and educated workforce, modern infrastructure, and affordable energy. Fair taxes mean everyone pitches in according to their means, so those who have less pay less, and those who have more pay more. Unfortunately, the vast majority of states still have upside-down tax structures, meaning that families with wealth pay a smaller portion of their income in taxes than families with low income. That’s not fair.

Occidental College Urban & Environmental Policy Institute: Measuring LA’s Mansion Tax

April 8, 2024

In November 2022, 58% of Los Angeles City voters approved Measure ULA to increase the City’s existing real estate transfer tax on property sales over $5 million. The law went into effect on April 1, 2023. In its first year, Measure ULA is on track to raise hundreds of millions of dollars and spend the funds to build more affordable housing, provide emergency rental assistance, protect tenants from eviction, and prevent homelessness. This is all despite efforts by the real estate industry to undermine the new law and a significant shortage of Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD) staff to carry…

Money: These States Are Using Their Budget Surpluses to Give Tax Breaks to Residents

April 8, 2024

The most impactful changes in state taxes this year have come in the form of new or expanded tax credits targeted at families with children, according to Aidan Davis, state policy director at the Institute of Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP), a nonprofit, nonpartisan tax policy organization. “The first really incredible — and, I would say, positive — trend was that 18 states created or enhanced child tax credits or income tax credits in their states,” Davis says. Three of those states (Minnesota, Oregon and Utah) launched brand-new child tax credits, she says, with the remainder altering, and usually improving, existing credits.

Associated Press: Lawmakers in GOP-Led Nebraska Advance Bill To Raise Sales Tax

April 3, 2024

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — With no votes to spare, Nebraska lawmakers advanced a bill that would raise the state’s sales tax by 1 cent to 6.5% on every taxable dollar spent — which would make it among the highest in the country.