Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP)
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‘Tax the Rich,’ Says … Mitt Romney?

December 22, 2025 • By Matthew Gardner

‘Tax the Rich,’ Says … Mitt Romney?

His 900-word New York Times op-ed identifies some sensible federal tax reform ideas that would create a fairer, more sustainable tax system.

States Can Create or Expand Refundable Credits by Taxing Wealth, Addressing Federal Conformity

Many states already recognize the potential of these credits to boost low- and moderate-income households. Other states should follow suit.

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Texas Property Tax Plan Mimics California’s Damaging Prop 13

December 19, 2025 • By Neva Butkus, Rita Jefferson

Texas Property Tax Plan Mimics California’s Damaging Prop 13

This proposal would disrupt the state’s housing market and jeopardize local revenues while doing very little to help workers and families struggling to pay their property tax bills – just as Prop 13 did in California.

State Rundown 12/17: Tax Policy ‘Naughty or Nice’ List Has Late Entrants

With a little over a week left, some states are solidifying their spots on the tax policy “naughty or nice” list.

No, Scott Bessent: States Aren’t Taking Away Anyone’s Tax Cuts

It’s wildly inappropriate for a U.S. Treasury Secretary to lean on states to adopt or not adopt specific federal provisions in their own state tax codes.

State Rundown 12/10: ‘Tis the Season to Reclaim Lost Revenue

property tax debates are taking place throughout the nation.

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State Rundown 12/3: Property Tax Cuts and Deficits

December 3, 2025 • By ITEP Staff

State Rundown 12/3: Property Tax Cuts and Deficits

States are increasingly facing difficult choices as revenues stagnate and deficits come clearer into focus.

Conforming to the ‘No Tax on Tips’ Gimmick Just Got Riskier and Costlier for States

An unknown number of workers who previously were assumed to be ineligible for the tax break may nonetheless claim it.

State Rundown 11/24: States Say ‘No Thank You’ to Federal Tax Cuts Reducing State Revenue

Lawmakers in two more states have wisely said “no thank you” to federal tax cuts that would have flowed through to their state tax codes and undermined funding for their priorities

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States Are Opening a Pandora’s Box of Data Centers

November 19, 2025 • By Page Gray

States Are Opening a Pandora’s Box of Data Centers

State governments are rushing to offer billions of dollars in subsidies to data center construction, apparently without understanding their full costs.

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Local Vacancy Taxes: A Tool but Not a Panacea

November 17, 2025 • By Rita Jefferson

Local Vacancy Taxes: A Tool but Not a Panacea

Vacancy taxes will not single-handedly solve problems in cities, but they are worth considering to address housing shortages, land use, and building thriving communities.

State Rundown 11/13: States Tackle Impending Deficits, Pennsylvania Secures an EITC

Revenue forecasts look increasingly grim as states anticipate shortfalls due to the slowing economy and impacts of the new federal tax law.

State Tax Dollars Shouldn’t Subsidize Federal Opportunity Zones

The Opportunity Zones program benefits wealthy investors more than it benefits disadvantaged communities.

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States Begin Decoupling from Flawed ‘QSBS’ Tax Break

November 6, 2025 • By Nick Johnson, Sarah Austin

States Begin Decoupling from Flawed ‘QSBS’ Tax Break

A costly tax break for wealthy venture capitalists is drawing some critical attention from state policymakers.

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Trump Raises the Price of Filing a Tax Return

November 5, 2025 • By Joe Hughes

Trump Raises the Price of Filing a Tax Return

The move was expected, given heavy lobbying from tax prep companies like Intuit and H&R Block to put a halt to the IRS’s popular Direct File program.

State Rundown 11/5: Voters Say “Yes!” to Public Investments

Despite being an off-year election, voters made a call for shared public investments at the polls.

Biden Tax Reforms Take a $16 Billion Bite Out of Trump’s Big Tax Giveaway to Meta

Meta’s earnings setback is entirely attributable to an important tax reform championed by the Biden administration in 2022.

Oil and Gas Companies Are Paying Less Tax to the U.S. than to Foreign Governments

Since 2017, these companies paid $135 billion in income taxes to foreign governments, but just $29 billion to the U.S.

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The Wealth Proceeds Tax: A Simple Way for States to Tax the Wealthy

October 30, 2025 • By Sarah Austin, Carl Davis

The Wealth Proceeds Tax: A Simple Way for States to Tax the Wealthy

Taxing the proceeds generated by wealth through a new Wealth Proceeds Tax is a simple way for states to raise billions in new revenue and improve the fairness of their tax systems.

State Rundown 10/27: As Temperatures Cool Tax Policy Heats Up

States across the nation are debating how best to respond to costly new federal tax cuts.

Why States Shouldn’t Go Along With OBBBA’s Corporate Tax Breaks: A Practical Guide

States should immediately decouple from four costly corporate tax provisions in the new federal tax law.

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The 5 Biggest State Tax Cuts for Millionaires this Year

October 16, 2025 • By Dylan Grundman O'Neill, Aidan Davis

The 5 Biggest State Tax Cuts for Millionaires this Year

Some states continue to hand out huge tax cuts to millionaires. The five largest tax cuts this year will cost states a total of $2.2 billion per year once fully implemented.

Well, That Was Fast: Trump Tax Law’s New Corporate Breaks are Already Worsening the Deficit

Corporate income taxes for the fiscal year that ended in September are $77 billion lower than in the previous year, a 15 percent drop.

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Some Members of Congress Will Cash in from New Tax Law

October 9, 2025 • By ITEP Staff

Some Members of Congress Will Cash in from New Tax Law

Many lawmakers who were vocal supporters of this bill will see direct personal benefits while most of their constituents benefit little or will be worse off.

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The Potential of Local Child Tax Credits to Reduce Child Poverty

October 8, 2025 • By Kamolika Das, Aidan Davis, Galen Hendricks, Rita Jefferson

The Potential of Local Child Tax Credits to Reduce Child Poverty

Local governments have a critical role to play in reducing child poverty. Local Child Tax Credits could provide large tax cuts to families at the bottom of the income scale, lessening the overall regressivity of state and local tax systems.