Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy

ITEP's Research Priorities

Thomson Reuters: Pushback Against Trump Plan to End IRS Direct File

April 16, 2025

Lawmakers and tax policy organization officials sounded off against the Trump administration’s reported intention to end the IRS’ free e-filing program after the only tax filing season it was available to taxpayers nationwide and in partnership with two-dozen state revenue agencies. Read more.

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It’s Tax Day. You’ve Paid Your Share, but the Billionaires Haven’t.

April 15, 2025 • By Amy Hanauer

You likely had most of your federal taxes deducted from your paychecks throughout the year. This is not true, however, for mega-millionaires and billionaires, some of whom are practically running our government right now.

Rep. Andreas Salinas: There’s a False Choice — and Then There’s the Right Choice — on Trump’s Tax Cuts

April 15, 2025

Rarely has Congress faced such an important decision on tax policy as it does right now: whether and how to extend the massive tax cuts enacted in 2017 during the first Trump administration — tax cuts that have largely benefited the rich at the expense of working families. Read more.

Arizona Daily Star: Trump’s Deportation Net Widens to Migrants with Legal Status, Taxpayers

April 13, 2025

The Trump administration has moved to revoke parole protections issued under President Joe Biden and deport migrants like Doralis, who followed all the rules and used CBP One to enter the U.S. Read more.

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IRS Cooperation with ICE Will Damage Public Trust, Putting Tax Revenues in Jeopardy

April 10, 2025 • By Marco Guzman

Attempts by the Department of Homeland Security to secure private information from the IRS on people who file taxes with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number is a violation of federal privacy laws that protect taxpayers. It is also a change that could seriously damage public trust in the IRS, which could jeopardize billions of dollars in tax payments by hardworking immigrant families.

Newsweek: Florida Wants to Cut Property Taxes—But California Has a Warning

April 10, 2025

As state lawmakers consider cutting and even abolishing property taxes in Florida, California—which passed major reform in the late 1970s protecting homeowners against significant hikes—offers a cautionary tale of how well-intended tax revolts can backfire against those they should benefit. Read more.

Audio: ITEP’s Steve Wamhoff on What Federal Tax Policy Should – and Shouldn’t – Accomplish

April 10, 2025

ITEP Federal Policy Director Steve Wamhoff appeared on the Oregon Center for Public Policy’s “Policy for the People” podcast, discussing his recent report and the 2025 tax debate.

NBC News: IRS to Share Info with ICE About Some Undocumented Immigrant Taxpayers

April 8, 2025

The Department of Homeland Security has sought to use tax filing information to find people in the U.S. without legal status in support of President Donald Trump’s mass deportation operation. Read more.

WGBH Boston: Immigrant Taxpayers Hesitate, Delay Filing Amid Fears of Deportation

April 8, 2025

Elgardo, an undocumented immigrant in Boston, has paid taxes like clockwork for the past seven years with an individual taxpayer identification number, or ITIN. The nine-digit tax processing number is available to some immigrants who want to comply with tax law but can’t access a social security number. Read more.

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Philadelphia Mayor’s Proposal to Cut Business Taxes is Illogical and Imprudent

April 7, 2025 • By Kamolika Das

Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s proposal to cut the city’s business income and receipts tax (BIRT), based off the Philadelphia Tax Reform Commission’s recommendation, is illogical and imprudent. This is more than the city spends each year on homelessness services, public health, the streets department, and countless other programs that directly benefit residents.

Associated Press: Mississippi and Kentucky Aim to End Personal Income Taxes

April 6, 2025

About 45 years have passed since a U.S. state last eliminated its income tax on wages and salaries. But with recent actions in Mississippi and Kentucky, two states now are on a path to do so, if their economies keep growing. Read more.

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What the Wall Street Journal Editorial Board Got Wrong About Tesla’s Tax Avoidance

April 4, 2025 • By Matthew Gardner

Tesla’s income tax avoidance is still in the news, and that’s a good thing.

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Senate Republicans Rig Congressional Rules to Make Their Tax Cuts Appear Cost-Free

April 4, 2025 • By Steve Wamhoff

This week, members of Congress are arguing about whether extending Trump’s 2017 tax cuts would cost trillions of dollars over a decade or cost nothing.

NPR’s Marketplace: Millions of Undocumented Immigrants File Taxes. Now Their Data Could Be Used to Deport Them.

April 4, 2025

Millions of undocumented immigrants pay taxes every year. And the confidentiality of the addresses and other personal data submitted to the IRS by taxpaying undocumented immigrants has remained protected for decades. But the Donald Trump administration is looking to change that, challenging a decadeslong firewall around taxpayer data. Read more.

Audio: ITEP’s Rita Jefferson Talks Property Tax Reform with KKFI-FM in Kansas City

April 4, 2025

The Kansas legislature failed to place an amendment on the ballot that would cap property valuations.  ITEP Local Analyst Rita Jefferson joined the Heartland Labor Forum live to discuss responsible ways to control soaring property taxes. (Her segment begins around the 30-minute mark.)

New York Times: Assessing Elon Musk’s Misleading Claims About Fraud in Government Spending

March 29, 2025

The world’s richest man made inaccurate claims about entitlement fraud, how a government payment system works and government survey costs. Read more.

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Why Americans Are Right to Be Unhappy About Corporate Tax Avoidance

March 26, 2025 • By Matthew Gardner

If lawmakers wanted to reduce income inequality and racial inequality, shutting down or at least limiting corporate tax breaks would be one option to achieve that goal. Unfortunately, President Trump and the current Congress show little interest in this and may even move in the opposite direction by introducing new corporate tax breaks.

The American Independent: Trump’s IRS Cuts Will Make It Easier for Rich Americans to Avoid Paying What They Owe

March 25, 2025

Experts say staffing cuts at the Internal Revenue Service will make it easier for wealthy tax evaders to avoid paying what they owe to the U.S. Treasury each year. In addition to costing the government billions of dollars in owed revenue, they say cuts by President Donald Trump’s administration will likely mean more audits for […]

ITEP’s Who Pays? Cited in Washington Bill Creating Financial Intangibles Tax

March 24, 2025

Senate Democratic leaders in Washington state have introduced a series of bills aimed at making the state’s tax code more balanced. In the bill text for a new financial intangibles tax, ITEP’s Who Pays? report is cited: “Washington’s tax system remains the second most regressive in the nation as it asks those with the least […]

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New Analysis: Congress Considering Creating an Unprecedented Tax Shelter to Steer Billions to Private K-12 School Vouchers and Wealthy Individuals

March 18, 2025 • By ITEP Staff

Contact: Jon Whiten ([email protected]) A bill introduced in Congress would create an unprecedented 100% tax credit for donations to nonprofits that give out private K-12 school vouchers and create a lucrative tax shelter that would further enrich some of America’s wealthiest individuals. If passed, the Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025 (ECCA) would cost […]

Every Texan: Texas Taxes Are Upside-Down. Big Tax Cuts Don’t Help.

March 18, 2025

Texas’ tax system is upside-down. When it comes to funding our public services, schools, and state and local governments, Texans with lower incomes are expected to pay more than their fair share. Read more.

CNN Video: ITEP’s Amy Hanauer on How DOGE’s Attack on the IRS Will Hurt Ordinary Taxpayers

March 17, 2025

ITEP Executive Director Amy Hanauer appeared on CNN on March 17, 2025 to discuss the ongoing attack by DOGE and Congress on the IRS.

Audio: ITEP’s Matt Gardner Discusses Maryland’s Tax and Budget Debate on WYPR

March 17, 2025

As the 2025 General Assembly reaches its midway point, the most pressing issue facing lawmakers is the state’s budget deficit. ITEP Senior Fellow Matt Gardner joined Midday to share the details of Gov. Wes Moore’s budget proposal. Listen to the full audio here.

South Florida Sun Sentinel: Editorial: If Property Taxes are Doomed, an Income Tax is Fairer

March 15, 2025

Florida has a new and dubious distinction: The nation’s most unfair tax code. Gov. Ron DeSantis and some legislators aim to make it even worse. After years of ranking second or third, Florida is now considered the absolute worst in terms of how much less a percentage of their incomes Donald Trump and other wealthy […]

Washington State Budget & Policy Center: The Truth About Washington’s Revenue Shortfall

March 14, 2025

During the 2025 legislative session, Washington state lawmakers face a budget shortfall that threatens funding for the public programs we all rely on. Read more.