Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy

ITEP's Research Priorities

Minnesota Post: Minnesota growth formula could help Detroit recover

August 12, 2013

New residents, immigrants and refugees specifically, hold great promise for reviving places like Detroit, battered by de-industrialization or changing economics.

Cape Gazette: Tax expert speaks to advocacy group

August 12, 2013

(Original Post) Gardner: DuPont pays no state, federal income tax By Kara Nuzback | Aug 07, 2013 Matt Gardner of the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy said companies such as DuPont do not pay $1 in state or federal income tax. LEWES — Fortune 500 companies are using loopholes to legally avoid paying taxes […]

Portland Press Herald: Immigration reform, a boon for all, should be embraced, not feared

August 12, 2013

(Original Post) By TOM GAWARKIEWICZ Special to the Press Herald AUGUSTA — Historically, immigrants from Canada came to Maine seeking better job opportunities in the mills. Now Canada is the country attracting immigrants, luring entrepreneurs and high-skill workers to enhance its economic competitiveness. Canada recently unveiled a new startup visa program, which offers foreign entrepreneurs […]

Policy Shop: Time to Tax Services, Not Just Sales

August 9, 2013

It's no secret that sales taxes are a regressive way to raise revenues. And the heavy reliance on such taxes across the country explains why state tax systems tend to clobber the poor while asking little of the rich.

KHAS TV: Nebraska Tax Committee reviews policy

August 7, 2013

The Nebraska Tax Committee continued their 6-month review of tax policy Tuesday. Some senators feel the state could be on the verge of major reform.

Journal and Courier (IN): Guest column: Immigration reform more than a map to amnesty

August 7, 2013

Original Post August 6, 2013 As an Indiana resident, I become more certain every day that immigration reform will benefit our community and our state. As just one sign of the potential rewards, the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy projects that comprehensive reform will increase local and state taxes paid by Indiana’s undocumented immigrants […]

The Worcester Telegram: Retailers hopeful to cash in on tax-free weekend

August 5, 2013

Original Post August 5, 2013 By Alli Knothe  Retailers are hopeful that the upcoming tax free weekend will be the incentive needed for shoppers to buy new appliances, furniture and other staples. “All you have is tax tax tax tax tax so for two days you’re going to get a break,” said Alan Lavine, whose […]

PBS: State Tax Cuts: Is Arthur Laffer All Wet?

August 2, 2013

The correlation between states having no income tax and their economic growth is not as direct as Reagan White House economic adviser Arthur Laffer says it is, argues tax economist Joel Slemrod.

Shreveport Times: Sales tax holiday runs Friday, Saturday

August 2, 2013

A chance to beat the state out of four cents sales tax for two days starts at midnight when the annual fall Sales Tax Holiday begins.

Stateline: MA Joins Sales Tax Holiday Parade

August 2, 2013

Massachusetts is the 18th state to join the back-to-school tax holiday parade this year. The legislature has authorized a tax-free weekend to begin Aug. 10.

The Record: Report sees tax benefits, jobs for N.J. from immigration reform

August 2, 2013

New Jersey's tax revenue and housing market would get a boost, and its technology and agricultural industry would gain jobs if Congress passes comprehensive immigration reform, according to economic projections released by the White House on Thursday.

The Davis Enterprise: Snippets of energy news

August 1, 2013

Back in the old days, when you went to the movies, theaters often would show a double feature, and these two movies would be preceded by a cartoon and a newsreel. The double feature is long gone, as is the cartoon, and the newsreel has been replaced with about 20 minutes of previews of coming attractions and, if you get there early enough, a bunch of advertisements.

PBS: How Low Can They Go? Arthur Laffer Defends Slashing State Income Taxes

August 1, 2013

In this 2012 Making Sen$e report, former Reagan White House economic adviser Arthur Laffer drew his famous curve on a napkin -- just the way he did for the Ford administration -- and explained how it works.

The City Wire: Some studies note impact of tax holiday promote spending

August 1, 2013

One back-to-school ritual designed to boost consumption will occur this weekend starting Saturday (Aug. 3) and ending Sunday (Aug. 4), as consumers may take advantage of a statewide tax-free holiday.

NPR: As Back-To-School Shopping Begins, Consumers May Turn Frugal

August 1, 2013

As August begins, retailers are stepping up sales promotions to attract back-to-school shoppers. And several states are offering tax-free shopping to encourage purchases.

The Birmingham News: Don’t sell short the contributions, in culture and in taxes, that immigrants make in the U.S., Alabama

July 31, 2013

(Original Post) By Joey Kennedy on July 29, 2013 at 9:39 AM, updated July 29, 2013 at 11:54 AM Comprehensive immigration reform appears bogged down in the U.S. House. Imagine that — the one branch of government controlled by far-right, tea-party politicians  can’t (won’t) get anything done. Still, the hope is that some how, some […]

The Advocate: Sales tax holiday begins Friday

July 31, 2013

  [email protected] July 31, 2013 State sales tax will take a holiday this weekend, giving consumers a chance to save on the purchases of clothes, appliances, electronics and other goods. Lifting the 4 percent state sales tax is a tradition that dates to the aftermath of 2005’s Hurricane Katrina, when legislators wanted to help storm […]

Arizona Daily Star: Legalizing undocumented immigrants makes economic sense

July 29, 2013

(Original Post) July 28, 2013 12:00 am  •  Ben Johnson Special To The Arizona Daily Star3 As Congress takes a summer respite to figure out how to move immigration reform forward in the House, mounting evidence shows that reform would be a plus to the national economy. For instance, the Congressional Budget Office recently estimated […]

The Gainesville Sun: Florida’s stake in immigration reform

July 26, 2013

(Original Post) Published: Friday, July 26, 2013 at 3:08 p.m. Last Modified: Friday, July 26, 2013 at 3:08 p.m. As Congress takes a summer respite to figure out how to move immigration reform forward in the House, mounting evidence shows that reform would be a plus to the national economy. For instance, the Congressional Budget […]

Media Matters: Conservative Media Ignore That Immigration Reform Is An Economic Issue

July 26, 2013

In Fact, Immigration Reform Has Everything To Do With The Economy Immigration Reform Would Increase Revenues ITEP: Newly Legalized Immigrants Would “Increase Their State And Local Tax Contributions By An Estimated $2 Billion A Year.” A study by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy found that while undocumented immigrants already contributed an estimated $10.6 […]

Jackson Clarion Ledger: A Mississippi sales-tax holiday primer

July 26, 2013

(Original Post) If you’re looking to save money on many kinds of clothing and footwear – but not school supplies – then the next two days are for you. Friday and Saturday will mark this year’s installment of Mississippi’s sales tax holiday, in which the state’s 7 percent sales tax will be generally waived on […]

Jackson Clarion Ledger: Drastically differing views on this weekend’s sales tax holiday

July 26, 2013

(Original Post) Mississippi’s annual “sales tax holiday” for clothing and footwear begins Friday, aimed primarily at helping parents with back-to-school purchases. I’ve received two correspondences on the holiday, one from a group saying it’s great, another saying it’s not. The Mississippi chapter of the National Federation of Independent Businesses says it’s “a big help to […]

Livingston Daily Press & Argus: Hune, U-M rules could clash

July 24, 2013

  Written by Christopher Behnan Daily Press & Argus State Sen. Joe Hune’s proposal to block undocumented immigrants from receiving state benefits could clash with the University of Michigan’s decision to grant in-state tuition to undocumented students. The U-M Board of Regents last week decided to let immigrants living in the country illegally pay lower, […]

McClatchy-Tribune: States expand sales tax holidays beyond back-to-school items

July 22, 2013

  Many states with back-to-school sales tax “holidays” are expanding them to cover almost any purchase, in addition to the usual kids’ clothing, shoes, books and school supplies. As schools and students replace ink and paper with pixels, some states are expanding their holidays to cover sales taxes on low-cost computers and tablets. These electronics […]

The Progressive Pulse: Facts matter about the tax “reform” debate

July 22, 2013

(Original Post) Post on July 19, 2013 by Jeff Shaw5 Comments » When making important decisions, people have a right to the best possible information. Facts, not ideology, should drive our policy agendas. This is especially true on budget and tax issues, which affect everyone in North Carolina. Unfortunately, John Hood’s recent column on the […]