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The vast majority of state and local tax systems are upside-down, with the wealthy paying a far lesser share of their income in taxes than low- and middle-income families. Yet a few states have made strides to buck that trend and have tax codes that are somewhat progressive and therefore do not worsen inequality.
Though Turkey Day has passed, lawmakers in states across the U.S. have yet to get their fill of delicious tax policy goodness...
States differ dramatically in how much they allow families to make choices about whether and when to have children and how much support they provide when families do. But there is a clear pattern: the states that compel childbirth spend less to help children once they are born.
State Rundown 11/8: Election Results Bring Victories, Opportunities for More Common-Sense Tax Reform
November 8, 2023 • By ITEP Staff
Voters had the chance to impact tax policy across the country on election day, and some chose to enact common-sense reforms to raise revenue...
State Rundown 10/12: Tax Policy Debates Don’t Just Happen in the Statehouse
October 12, 2023 • By ITEP Staff
It may be the off-season for state legislatures, but tax policy changes could soon emerge from the ballot box or the courts. Advocates in Arkansas want voters to decide the future of taxing diapers and feminine hygiene products, and supporters of public education in Nebraska are working to make sure voters have a say on the state’s school choice tax credit. Meanwhile, cannabis firms in Missouri are suing the state over cities and counties stacking sales tax on marijuana.
The Campaign by Democratic Former Officials to Stop Taxes on the Wealthy
October 6, 2023 • By Steve Wamhoff
One of the most attention-grabbing anti-tax campaigns at work today is called SAFE, which stands for Saving America’s Family Enterprises. But it might as well mean Saving Aristocrats From Everything given the outfit’s knack for opposing any national proposal to limit special tax advantages that only the wealthy enjoy. The basic approach of SAFE is […]
The U.S. Census Bureau released its annual assessment of poverty in America this week...
State Rundown 8/10: Pump the ‘Breaks’ on Sales Tax Holiday Celebrations
August 10, 2023 • By ITEP Staff
August is here, school is starting, and with that comes back to school shopping...
States and Localities are Making Progress on Curbing Unjust Fees and Fines
July 18, 2023 • By Andrew Boardman
Too many state and local governments tap legal-system collections, rather than adequate tax systems, to fund shared essentials like public safety and education. But a growing number of states and localities are choosing a better approach. Momentum for change has continued to build in 2023, with no fewer than seven states enacting substantial improvements.
State Rundown 7/6: Tax Policy Keeping Governors Busy from Coast to Coast
July 6, 2023 • By ITEP Staff
From coast to coast, state governors have been busy inking their signature on a growing list of consequential budget and tax bills...
Illinois Voucher Tax Credits Don’t ‘Invest in Kids,’ They Invest in Inequality
June 12, 2023 • By Carl Davis
By allowing their school privatization tax credit to expire at the end of the year, Illinois lawmakers can take a meaningful step toward better tax and education policy, and a clear show of support for our nation’s public education system.
Across the country, the marathon budget season has held pace, with a steady stream of bills continuing to cross the finish line...
This past week, in statehouses around the country, tax policy decisions are moving fast as budgets were signed and budget plans were released and passed...
While the conversations on the debt ceiling heat up in the nation's capital, debates on state tax policy also continue to unfold in capitol buildings across the nation...
This week the importance of state tax policy is center stage once again...
Racial Justice Requires Tax Justice: Our Analysis Helps Deliver Both
April 24, 2023 • By Amy Hanauer
ITEP’s analytical approach, our comprehensive microsimulation model, and our unique state-level capacities enable us to do pioneering analyses that enrich the debate on racial justice in tax policy that no other entity can do.
State Rundown 4/19: Revenue Discussions Heat Up Like the Temperature
April 19, 2023 • By ITEP Staff
Tax season has ended for most filers, but the topic remains a hot one in states around the country...
Why the States Have a Major Role to Play If We Want Tax Justice
February 9, 2023 • By Amy Hanauer
With fears of gridlock in a divided Washington, tax justice champions are building momentum in other places where there's dire need for better tax policy: the states. We can upgrade communities across the country by making 2023 a year to win tax improvements in statehouses.
State Lawmakers Should Break the 2023 Tax Cut Fever Before It’s Too Late
January 18, 2023 • By Miles Trinidad
Despite mixed economic signals for 2023, including a possible recession, many state lawmakers plan to use temporary budget surpluses to forge ahead with permanent, regressive tax cuts that would disproportionately benefit the wealthy at the expense of low- and middle-income households. These cuts would put state finances in a precarious position and further erode public investments in education, transportation and health, all of which are crucial for creating inclusive, vibrant communities where everyone, not just the rich, can achieve economic security and thrive. In the event of an economic downturn, these results would be accelerated and amplified.
State Rundown 11/30: ‘Lame Duck’ December Could Have Major Tax Implications
November 30, 2022 • By ITEP Staff
As federal lawmakers begin their lame duck deliberations, the revival of the expanded child tax credit remains a strong possibility...
Next Tuesday, voters will head to the polls to not only elect local and national leaders, but also let their voices be heard on a range of tax policy issues that could improve or worsen their state tax codes...
Do you remember/the big tax news innn September? Well, if not, we at ITEP got you covered...
State Rundown 9/7: Labor Day Week Provides Sobering Reminder of Steps Forward, Back
September 7, 2022 • By ITEP Staff
Though Labor Day has passed, advocates on the ground in states across the country are continuing to uphold the spirit of the labor movement...
State Rundown 7/27: It’s (Sales Tax) Holiday Season, But Who’s Really Celebrating?
July 27, 2022 • By ITEP Staff
It’s the holiday season – well, the sales tax holiday season, that is. But after taking a closer look, you may notice that there is little to celebrate...
New ITEP Report Examines the Path to Equitable Tax Policy in the South
June 22, 2022 • By Kamolika Das
“From the inception of the emerging American nation, the South is a central battleground in the struggles for freedom, justice, and equality. It is the location of the most intense repression, exploitation, and reaction directed toward Africans Americans, as well as Native Americans and working people generally. At the same time the South is the […]
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