According to a study just released by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy in Washington, Washington State sets the regressive standard, while we rank 14th. If your income is $17,100 or less in Louisiana, you’ll pay 11.9 percent of it in taxes. That number shrinks the further you go up on the income scale and is roughly halved by the time you reach fat-cat territory. Sales and excise taxes take 9.2 percent from the poorest, and 1.2 percent from the richest.
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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media mention November 3, 2018 The New Orleans Advocate: James Gill: Louisiana’s Tax System Isn’t the Most Unfair in the Nation, But It’s not for Lack of Trying
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ITEP Work in Action October 17, 2018 Louisiana Budget Project: Louisiana’s Tax Code is Still Regressive
The wealthiest households in Louisiana continue to pay state and local taxes at a lower rate than those in the middle class and below, according to a new analysis that breaks down the tax rates by income brackets in every state. The report, Who Pays? A Distributional Analysis of the Tax Systems in All 50 States found that households with incomes in the lowest 20 percent pay nearly twice as much of their income in taxes as households in the top 1 percent. Louisiana has the 14th most regressive tax code in the country, according to the report by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.
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ITEP Work in Action May 18, 2018 Louisiana Budget Project: Black households would bear disproportionate burden of sales tax renewal
Lawmakers can address this imbalance by expanding Louisiana’s EITC. An increase of the state EITC from 3.5 percent to 7 percent of the federal EITC would offset a half-cent cent… -
ITEP Work in Action April 19, 2017 Louisiana Budget Project: Most would get tax cut under Gov. John Bel Edwards’ tax plan
Louisiana is $440 million short of the revenue needed to fund state government at current levels in next year’s budget. The problem gets much worse in the 2018-19 fiscal year,… -
ITEP Work in Action March 6, 2017 Invest in Louisiana: Moving from Budget Cuts to State Investment
Louisiana’s tax system is broken. It doesn’t bring in enough revenue to pay for the things that allow communities to thrive- strong schools, good hospitals and public safety. It taxes… -
ITEP Work in Action January 9, 2017 Louisiana Department of Transportation & Development: Sustainable Solutions for Multimodal Transportation Infrastructure in Louisiana
The Governor’s Task Force on Transportation Infrastructure Investment is an 18-member Task Force established by Governor Edwards to recommend community-driven solutions for Louisiana’s transportation infrastructure investment needs. The Task Force submitted its formal… -
ITEP Work in Action December 19, 2016 The Governor’s Task Force on Infrastructure Investment: Sustainable Solutions for Multimodal Transportaion Infrastructure in Louisiana
Pursuant to the charges of JBE 2016-23, the Governor’s Task Force on Transportation Infrastructure Investment (Task Force) worked diligently over a six-month period to determine what must be done to… -
ITEP Work in Action December 18, 2016 Report to the Louisiana Governor: SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS FOR MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE IN LOUISIANA
Pursuant to the charges of JBE 2016-23, the Governor’s Task Force on Transportation Infrastructure Investment (Task Force) worked diligently over a six-month period to determine what must be done to… -
ITEP Work in Action May 5, 2016 Louisiana Budget Project: The federal deduction needs reform
“There are two key questions confronting Louisiana officials as they grapple with the most serious budget crisis in a generation: How much new tax revenue does Louisiana need in order… -
ITEP Work in Action February 3, 2016 Louisiana Budget Project: A stronger EITC can mitigate sales tax increase
The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) calculates that the poorest 40 percent of Louisiana households paid 10 percent of their family income in state and local taxes… -
ITEP Work in Action January 16, 2015 Louisiana Budget Project: Taxing the Poor
In less than three months, Louisiana legislators will convene for their annual session. It’s an odd-numbered year, which means it’s a two-month “fiscal” session that’s supposed to be focused on… -
ITEP Work in Action May 22, 2014 Louisiana Budget Project: Increasing EITC improves tax fairness, reduces poverty, invests in children
Efforts to modestly raise the minimum wage in Louisiana failed this legislative session — even though the wage isn’t high enough to keep a full-time worker with a child out… -
ITEP Work in Action March 19, 2013 Louisiana Budget Project: Eliminating Louisiana’s Income Taxes Will Hurt the State’s Economy
Gov. Bobby Jindal’s plan to abolish Louisiana’s income taxes is based on a flawed economic analysis and is likely to hurt the state’s economy rather than boost it, according to… -
ITEP Work in Action January 15, 2013 Agenda for Children: Building a Better Tax Cut: Alternative to SB87 Would Cut Taxes for Twice as Many Louisianans – at Half the Cost
On Wednesday, May 14, 2008, the House Ways and Means Committee approved SB 87, a measure originally sponsored by Senator Buddy Shaw and now backed by Governor Bobby Jindal. The… -
ITEP Work in Action January 14, 2013 Louisiana Budget Project: Eliminating State Income Tax: Good for Whom?
Several bills introduced in the current regular legislative session would eliminate Louisiana’s state income tax, without mandating any replacement revenues. Adoption of any of these measures would be detrimental to… -
ITEP Work in Action January 14, 2013 Louisiana Budget Project: Louisiana at the Crossroads- Responsible Responses to Louisiana’s Fiscal Crisis
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ITEP Work in Action December 17, 2012 Louisiana Budget Project: Louisiana’s Earned Income Tax Credit: A Smart Investment in Working Families and Children
“With poverty on the rise in Louisiana, especially among children, policymakers should expand the state’s version of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)—a tried-and-true tax benefit for families that work,…