Multinational corporations make huge profits from the business activity they conduct in Hawaiʻi, while dodging the taxes they should be paying to support our state. These huge corporations do this by moving the profits earned within Hawaiʻi to their tax havens in foreign countries that levy almost no corporate taxes.
ITEP Work in Action
Advocates and policymakers at the state and federal levels rely on ITEP’s analytic capabilities to inform their debates on proposed tax policy changes. In any given year, ITEP fields requests for analyses of policies in 25 or more states. ITEP also works with national partners to provide analyses of federal tax policy proposals. This section highlights reports that use ITEP analyses to make a compelling case for progressive tax reforms.
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ITEP Work in Action March 20, 2025 Hawai’i Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice: Hawai’i Should Close Tax Loopholes for Multinational Corporations
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ITEP Work in Action March 20, 2025 Oregon Center for Public Policy: Renew and Expand the Oregon Earned Income Tax Credit
The EITC is one of the most effective ways to address rising costs for hard-working families in Oregon.
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ITEP Work in Action March 20, 2025 Massachusetts Budget & Policy Center: By Taxing GILTI Profits, Massachusetts Can Reclaim Millions in Revenue Lost to Corporate Offshore Tax Dodging
Massachusetts loses out on hundreds of millions of tax dollars each year due to “profit-shifting”, a practice common among large, multinational corporations. International profit-shifting involves complex accounting maneuvers that make a corporation’s U.S. profits appear instead on the books of related companies located in offshore tax havens. It is an abusive form of tax avoidance that many multinational corporations use to lower their federal and state tax payments.
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ITEP Work in Action March 18, 2025 Every Texan: Texas Taxes Are Upside-Down. Big Tax Cuts Don’t Help.
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… -
ITEP Work in Action March 14, 2025 Washington State Budget & Policy Center: The Truth About Washington’s Revenue Shortfall
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. -
ITEP Work in Action March 12, 2025 Minnesota Budget Project: Trump’s 2025 Tax Plans Would Hurt Everyday Americans
Trump tax plans – like extending most provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) that are set to expire, special tax breaks for people who earn some kinds of income, or new corporate tax cuts – would provide the largest tax cuts to higher-income households and profitable corporations. Because the Trump tax plans are also very costly, they could add hundreds of billions of dollars to the deficit every year and put health care, food support, and other public services that low- and middle-income people benefit from on the chopping block to pay for those tax cuts.1
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ITEP Work in Action March 10, 2025 Centre for International Corporate Tax Accountability and Research: Starbucks’ Swiss Scheme: ‘Fair’ Trading or Global Tax Dodge?
A new report from CICTAR alleges that hidden behind its ‘ethical’ sourcing of coffee beans, Starbucks engages in major global tax avoidance. The report estimates that at least $1.3 billion has been diverted via Starbucks’ Swiss subsidiary over the last decade. On paper only, all of Starbucks’ coffee – at least 3% of the global coffee bean trade – is purchased via a Swiss subsidiary. This entity, Starbucks Coffee Trading Company Sarl, has marked up the price by a stunning 15-18% before re-selling to other Starbucks subsidiaries for roasting and retailing.
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ITEP Work in Action March 10, 2025 Economic Policy Institute: What You Need to Know About Immigrant Workers
New fact sheets from the Economic Policy Institute illustrate the positive economic impact of immigrant workers in every state–and cite recent research on how much President Trump’s mass deportation agenda could cost… -
ITEP Work in Action March 7, 2025 Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: Maryland’s Tax Loophole for Billionaire Corporations Must End as Federal Cuts Loom for Working Families
Conservative revenue estimates released last month by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) project more than $700 million annually in new revenues for Maryland once you close the loophole that allows a small group of the world’s most aggressive global giants to dodge their responsibility to the people of Maryland.[10] These funds will help Maryland close its budget gap, respond effectively to the federal government’s financial threats, and enable important public investments in good schools, good nutrition, good roads, good health care, and good state workers who deliver high-quality service to Marylanders.
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ITEP Work in Action March 7, 2025 Sen. Warren: Warren Slams Big Tech CEOs for Cozying Up to Trump Admin, Attempting to Score Billions in Tax Handouts at Working Families’ Expense
U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, wrote to Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla; Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon; Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta; Tim Cook, CEO of Apple; and Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet, regarding the cumulative $75 billion in tax giveaways — handed out at the expense of working families — that their companies could receive after cozying up to the Trump administration.
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ITEP Work in Action March 6, 2025 American Journal of Managed Care: Trump’s Immigration Crackdown Fuels Health Crisis: Detention, Depression, Deportation, and Disease
The Trump administration’s stringent immigration policies are causing a public health crisis, marked by severe mental and physical health consequences for detained immigrants in overcrowded and unsafe detention centers, which… -
ITEP Work in Action March 5, 2025 Sen. Sanders Delivers Livestreamed Response to President Trump’s Congressional Address
As most Americans know, we are living in a pivotal moment in American history – facing unprecedented challenges. How we respond to this moment will impact not only OUR lives,… -
ITEP Work in Action March 4, 2025 Testimony: ITEP’s Miles Trinidad on Maryland’s Budget Reconciliation Act of 2025
This testimony was delivered to a joint session of Maryland’s House Appropriations and Ways and Means Committees on February 27, 2025. Thank you for the opportunity to provide testimony on… -
ITEP Work in Action March 4, 2025 New Jersey Senator Singleton and Senate President Scutari Resolution Condemning Federal Efforts to Cut Funding
In response to the recent passage by the House of Representatives of a budget resolution that seeks to cut hundreds of billions in funding for programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and… -
ITEP Work in Action February 27, 2025 Testimony: ITEP’s Matt Gardner Discusses How to Improve Maryland’s Tax Code at House Ways & Means Committee Hearing
ITEP Senior Fellow Matt Gardner submitted the written testimony below to Maryland’s House Ways & Means Committee on February 20, 2025. Video of his oral testimony is at the bottom… -
ITEP Work in Action February 25, 2025 Hawai’i Worldwide Combined Reporting Bill Cites ITEP Data
House Bill 116 in this year’s state legislative session in Hawai’i cites ITEP data on the revenue potential of worldwide combined reporting (WWCR). (For more on WWCR, read our recent… -
ITEP Work in Action February 25, 2025 Florida Policy Institute: A Risky Proposition: Weakening Local Governments by Eliminating Property Tax Revenue
In Florida, the ability of local governments to raise revenue for operations is limited by the state constitution.[1] With the exception of fees, special assessments,[2] and the property tax, also known as an ad valorem tax, local governments are dependent on the Legislature and state laws for authority to levy other forms of taxation and raise revenue. Consequently, as a matter of fiscal management and local autonomy, the property tax is paramount. Considering recent policy proposals to eliminate property taxes (see Appendix), this brief explores the property tax, its role as a source of local fiscal autonomy, possibilities for reform, and the consequences of replacing property taxes with other revenue options.
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ITEP Work in Action February 22, 2025 Maine Center for Economic Policy: Proposed Medicaid Cuts Put Maine Families’ Incomes At Risk
Proposed Medicaid cuts could affect over 400,000 Mainers, especially children, older adults, and families with low income, reducing access to essential health care and economic stability. Read more. -
ITEP Work in Action February 22, 2025 Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: Let’s End Corporate Tax Avoidance in Maryland by Enacting Worldwide Combined Reporting
Conservative revenue estimates released this week by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) project hundreds of millions of dollars in new revenues for Maryland once you close the… -
ITEP Work in Action February 11, 2025 Maryland Center on Economic Policy: First Look: Governor Combines Revenues, Cuts to Narrow Budget Gap
Gov. Moore’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025–June 2026) makes a significant dent in the state’s looming shortfalls, with similar-sized contributions from tax reforms and budget cuts. The plan takes several positive steps to crack down on corporate tax avoidance and ask wealthy individuals to pay their fair share. These reforms are an important measure to protect Marylanders from much more drastic cuts to public services. At the same time, a more ambitious revenue package would do more to support the foundations of thriving communities across our state.
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ITEP Work in Action February 11, 2025 Demos: Taxes Explained: A Fair and Just Tax Code Is Critical for Improving Economic Power for the People
This year will be a pivotal year for tax policy and will have far-reaching consequences for our economy and democracy. It is important that the people understand what is at stake. This Tax Justice and Racial Equity Explainer Series will cover key elements of the tax code that Congress will be debating this year and their real-world significance for communities of color. The following four pieces will cover corporate taxation, the difference between wealth and income taxes, and an overview of tax credits and deductions.
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ITEP Work in Action February 10, 2025 Kentucky Center for Economic Policy: Another Income Tax Cut Will Dig the Hole Deeper
Kentucky lawmakers are expected to vote early in the legislative session on another half-point cut to the individual income tax rate, a drop from 4% to 3.5%. This cut is expected to pass despite a projected decline in tax revenues due to the income tax reductions of the last couple of years. With this next drop, the state will get closer to the level of tax cuts Kansas put in place in 2013 and was forced to reverse just five years later because the state wasn’t bringing in enough money to meet its obligations.
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ITEP Work in Action February 5, 2025 Video: ITEP’s Kamolika Das on Revenue and Fines & Fees Reform
ITEP Local Policy Director Kamolika Das discussed revenue and the reform of fines and fees at this webinar hosted by the Fines & Fees Justice Center. -
ITEP Work in Action February 3, 2025 New Jersey Policy Perspective: Extending Trump Tax Cuts Would Benefit the Wealthiest New Jerseyans
Fair tax policy depends on prioritizing the well-being of all households, not just the wealthiest. New Jersey, and the nation as a whole, cannot afford to hand special tax breaks to the most affluent residents by slashing essential services such as health insurance for working families. New analysis of the Trump administration’s plan to make tax breaks from the 2017 tax law permanent shows that the proposal would do just that. It would make the wealthiest New Jerseyans even richer while cutting programs and support for families who need help affording basic necessities like food and health care.
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ITEP Work in Action February 1, 2025 Roosevelt Institute: Taxing Excessive Profits: Designing a Pro-Competition Corporate Tax System
This brief—originally presented as a discussion guide to the October 2024 convening “Promoting Equity and Efficiency: Rethinking Corporate Taxation to Address Market Power,” hosted by the Institute for Macroeconomic &…