Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy

ITEP's Research Priorities

Atlanta Journal Constitution: Georgia retirees get an edge, but context needed to understand ranking

November 16, 2015

“Norton Francis, a senior research associate with the Urban Institute’s State and Local Finance Initiative, said the ranking is likely “pretty much true,” largely because of Georgia’s generous pension exemption. But both he and Carl Davis, research director with the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, said they questioned whether the Kiplinger rankings took into […]

Metro: In Pa. budget deal, Philly could see one of highest sales tax rates in nation

November 16, 2015

“Matt Gardner, executive director of the Washington D.C.-based Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, said an increase in the state’s sales tax would hit low-income residents hard, in a state where poor people already devote a large chunk of their income to taxes. His organization, which gets much of its funding from left-leaning foundations, compiles […]

The Blaze: CNN Host Tells Donald Trump Illegal Immigrants Pay Billions in Taxes — Watch His Fiery Response

November 16, 2015

“According to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, approximately 11.4 million individuals in the U.S. illegally paid $11.84 billion in state and local taxes in 2012. The conservative Heritage Foundation estimated unlawful immigrant households paid $39.2 billion in 2010, but received $93.7 billion in government services.” Read more

Politifact: Is Georgia tax-friendly state for retirees?

November 16, 2015

“Norton Francis, a senior research associate with the Urban Institute’s State and Local Finance Initiative, said the ranking is likely “pretty much true,” largely because of Georgia’s generous pension exemption. But both he and Carl Davis, research director with the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, said they questioned whether the Kiplinger rankings took into […]

Washington Times: Terrorist attacks, crime are greatest concerns

November 16, 2015

“Illegal aliens pay income, sales, excise, property, or employment taxes approximating $12 billion annually according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. The value of government welfare or social service benefits received by illegals is uncertain. But let’s assume it’s greater that the taxes they pay. That difference would be at most a decimal […]

Huffington Post: States Searching For Ways To Pay For Construction And Maintenance Of Roads And Bridges

November 10, 2015

“New, more fuel efficient cars have eaten into gas tax revenue. Furthermore, many gas tax rates—including Oregon’s 30-cent levy—have not kept up with inflation. In Oregon the effective tax rate will fall to less than 24 cents per gallon in inflation-adjusted terms within 10 years, according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, a […]

Latin Post: Obama Immigration Action Lawsuit: DAPA, DACA Temporary Injunction Risks Billions in Potential Revenue

November 10, 2015

“The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP), a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization about tax policy issues, $845 million in state and local taxes would accumulate, per year, from DAPA and DACA, also taking into account the 2012 DACA recipients. ITEP noted up to 5.2 million undocumented immigrants would benefit from Obama’s 2012 and 2014 […]

Chicago Sun Times: Tuesday Letters: Corporations duck state taxes while children pay

November 4, 2015

“It’s the children and the taxpayers of Illinois who bear the burden of reform. Illinois in 2012 cut education spending by a greater percentage than any other state, and in 2013 it was third-worst in cuts per student. And our system of taxes hits low-income families the hardest. The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy […]

Idaho Statesman: Does ‘fixing’ Idaho taxes mean cutting, or something else?

November 3, 2015

  “The other two legs of Idaho’s tax structure are sales and property taxes. On both scores, Idaho is in the lower half of states, and much lower on property taxes. Its overall tax structure is also fairer than most across income levels. State rankings on tax inequality compiled by the Institute on Taxation and […]

Mcalester News Capital: Sales tax plan reflects shift in Okla. tax base

November 2, 2015

“If voters approved the measure, it would restore the education funds that have been lost over the last decade. Analysts acknowledged that might be the only practical way to address Oklahoma’s educational woes, but was not necessarily good tax policy. “Oklahoma has a regressive tax system, and the sales tax is a big part of […]

The Rocky Mountain Collegian: Opinion: Illegal immigration is a non-issue

November 2, 2015

“Illegal immigrants have also not been shown to use social services or public assistance programs any more than the average person. If anything, immigrants here illegally actually use social services less than most people, as some studies have shown. As the ACLU points out, many welfare programs require some duration of time as a legal […]

NJ.com: Millennials ease off the gas (making it harder to pay for roads…)

November 2, 2015

“It’s the same story around the country. Carl Davis, research director of the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, a Washington-based non-partisan research group on tax issues, said 21 states have gone more than a decade without raising their gas tax rate, and 15 have gone two decades or more without an increase.” Read more

Newsweek: The Four Top Myths About Immigration

November 2, 2015

“Immigrants pay taxes! The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy released a report this year showing undocumented immigrants paid $11.8 billion in state and local taxes in 2012 and their combined nationwide state and local tax contributions would increase by $2.2 billion under comprehensive immigration reform.” Read more

CBS News: Why Pfizer is so bent on lowering its tax rate

November 2, 2015

“According to Matthew Gardner, executive director of the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, the New York-based company has 151 subsidiaries in known tax havens such as the Cayman Islands. Pfizer also claims to have lost $16 billion in the U.S. over the past five years while earning about $80 billion overseas. Between 2010 and […]

MLive: ‘Fiscal time bomb’ or welcome relief? Income tax rollback linked to Michigan roads plan

November 2, 2015

“The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, a left-leaning think tank, crunched numbers on the overall House road funding plan and found that if the income tax rate was cut to 3.92 percent people earning between $21,000 and $185,000 would end up saving between $49 and $140 a year.” Read more

Oklahoma Watch: Boren’s sales tax plan reflects shift in Oklahoma tax base

October 26, 2015

“If voters approved the measure, it would restore the education funds that have been lost over the last decade. Analysts acknowledged that might be the only practical way to address Oklahoma’s educational woes, but was not necessarily good tax policy.“Oklahoma has a regressive tax system, and the sales tax is a big part of that,” […]

Between the Lines: American Corporations Shelter $2.1 Trillion in Offshore Profits, Withholding $620 Billion in U.S. Tax Revenue

October 23, 2015

“Interview with Matthew Gardner, executive director of the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, conducted by Scott Harris. Since well before Ronald Reagan was elected president in 1980, Republican and conservative politicians have railed against corporate taxes, arguing that high U.S. tax rates hurt the American economy and put a damper on the creation of […]

Oklahoma Watch: Boren Sales Tax Plan Reflects Shift in Oklahoma Tax Base

October 23, 2015

“If voters approved the measure, it would restore the education funds that have been lost over the last decade. Analysts acknowledged that might be the only practical way to address Oklahoma’s educational woes, but was not necessarily good tax policy. “Oklahoma has a regressive tax system, and the sales tax is a big part of […]

Grand Haven Tribune: 10 things to know today

October 23, 2015

“Immigrants pay taxes! The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy released a report this year showing undocumented immigrants paid $11.8 billion in state and local taxes in 2012 and their combined nationwide state and local tax contributions would increase by $2.2 billion under comprehensive immigration reform.” Read more

CPA Practice Advisory: The Pros and Cons of Sales Tax Holidays – A Mixed Blessing

October 23, 2015

“While families and teachers merit a tax break on school-related goods, this perk comes at a cost. This year, tax holidays in 18 states will cost an estimated $300 million in tax revenue, according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. The Boston Globe reports that Massachusetts’ wide-net holiday will cost the state $25 […]

Huffington Post: The 4 Big Lies About Immigrants — and the Truth

October 23, 2015

“Immigrants pay taxes! The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy released a report this year showing undocumented immigrants paid $11.8 billion in state and local taxes in 2012 and their combined nationwide state and local tax contributions would increase by $2.2 billion under comprehensive immigration reform.” Read more

The Lawton Constitution: Penny Tax For Schools Would Be Major Shift

October 23, 2015

“If voters approved the measure, it would restore the education funds that have been lost over the last decade. Analysts acknowledged that might be the only practical way to address Oklahoma’s educational woes, but was not necessarily good tax policy. “Oklahoma has a regressive tax system, and the sales tax is a big part of […]

Salon: Robert Reich: Demagogues are brazenly lying to you about U.S. immigrants

October 23, 2015

“Immigrants pay taxes! The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy released a report this year showing undocumented immigrants paid $11.8 billion in state and local taxes in 2012 and their combined nationwide state and local tax contributions would increase by $2.2 billion under comprehensive immigration reform. MYTH: Legal and illegal immigration is increasing.” Read more

KUOW News and Information: Broke? Taxes On These Shoes Are Another Reason Why

October 21, 2015

“The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy says Washingtonians with low incomes pay 16 percent of their wages to state and local governments. A big chunk of that is sales tax. People on the high end pay 2 percent of their overall wage.” Read more

Enid News & Eagle: Boren sales tax plan reflects shift in tax base

October 21, 2015

““Oklahoma has a regressive tax system, and the sales tax is a big part of that,” said Carl Davis, research director for the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy in Washington, a nongovernment research group.” Read more