Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP)

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1,405 posts
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Intuit Helped Limit Americans’ Tax Filing Options While Raking in Millions in Tax Breaks

• By Joe Hughes

As tax filing season begins, families have fewer options than last year, thanks to the heavy lobbying efforts of big tax-preparation corporations like Intuit (the parent company of TurboTax).

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How the Wealthy Exploit the Tax Code: Q&A with Professor Ray Madoff, Author of ‘The Second Estate’

• By Brakeyshia Samms

Her timely book, The Second Estate: How the Tax Code Made an American Aristocracy, walks readers through federal tax policy history and the modern-day legal maneuvers the wealthy use to pay little to no taxes

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State Rundown 1/22: Cautious Tone Noticeable in Most Statehouses

• By ITEP Staff

Most states are adopting a very cautious approach so far this year as legislators begin their sessions and governors make their annual addresses, thanks to ongoing economic uncertainty and federal retrenchment.

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States Can Push Back Against Reckless Federal Tax Policy. Here’s How.

• By Aidan Davis, Wesley Tharpe

They should take steps to protect and boost their own revenues. And they should take a second look at their own tax cuts.

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Local Governments Are Increasingly Strapped: 2026 Will Bring New Challenges and New Opportunities

• By Kamolika Das

2025 saw an intensification of state and local tax fights across the country, as well as growing experimentation with local-option taxes, levies, fees, and tourism taxes aimed at keeping budgets afloat while also navigating political constraints imposed by state legislatures.

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State Rundown 1/14: New Year Brings New Resolutions for Funding Key Priorities

• By ITEP Staff

State governors are beginning to lay out their top priorities as legislatures reconvene in statehouses around the country.

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Curbing Tax Deductions for Executive Pay is a Federal Tax Change States Should Get Behind

• By Matthew Gardner

This provision in last summer’s tax law could actually make budget-balancing a little bit easier for states if they follow suit.

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Show Me Where We’re Going: Missouri’s Fiscally Irresponsible Path Will Be Paid for by Everyday People

• By Logan Liguore

Missouri lawmakers have been pushing regressive and shortsighted tax policies that undermine everyday workers and sabotage the Show-Me State’s ability to raise revenue.

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State Rundown 1/7: New Year, New Opportunities for Progressive Revenue

• By ITEP Staff

As we kick off a new year, several states are facing revenue shortfalls. Some lawmakers are approaching the challenge with sustainable and equitable solutions.

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Don’t Be Fooled by Treasury’s Jekyll and Hyde Approach to Tax Enforcement

• By Matthew Gardner

While this guidance is sorely needed to clean up the mess created by a hasty Congress, these notices stand in sharp contrast to the deregulatory, anti-tax approach that the Treasury Department has taken.

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Pennsylvania Just Gave Low-Income Workers a Tax Credit Boost. Now It’s Philadelphia’s Turn.

• By Kamolika Das

In the same way states are building upon federal tax credits, localities should consider building on state tax credits.

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2025: The Year in Tax Policy

• By ITEP Staff

From Congressional discussions over the so-called "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" to debates on property taxes, ITEP kept busy this year analyzing tax proposals and showing Americans across the country how tax decisions affect them.

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‘Tax the Rich,’ Says … Mitt Romney?

• By Matthew Gardner

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

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Governor Gavin Newsome: FACT: California’s Population Increased…Again

• By ITEP Staff

California’s population increased again, marking the third consecutive year of growth and signaling a continued return to long-term demographic stability.

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

• By Zachary Sarver

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

• By Neva Butkus, Rita Jefferson

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.

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

• By ITEP Staff

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

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President Trump Says His Tariffs Aren’t Paid by Americans. Corporations Are Indicating the Opposite.

• By Logan Liguore

Corporations have publicly revealed that they are passing the cost of tariffs on to Americans—the opposite of what the executive branch has said is happening.

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

• By Nick Johnson

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.

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

• By ITEP Staff

property tax debates are taking place throughout the nation.

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Not-So-Free Kick: How the 2026 FIFA World Cup Will Cost Cities Millions

• By Page Gray

FIFA demanded sales tax breaks on World Cup Tickets. That means millions in lost revenue for host cities already shouldering the costs on providing infrastructure, security and logistics.

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Congressional Republicans Ignore Tariffs and Instead Talk Up Their Corporate Tax Cuts

• By Steve Wamhoff

Instead of discussing President Trump's deeply unpopular tariff policies, House Republicans are making misleading and untrue claims about their tax cuts.

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State Rundown 12/3: Property Tax Cuts and Deficits

• By ITEP Staff

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

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

• By Nick Johnson

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

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

• By ITEP Staff

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