Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy

ITEP Work in Action

Fiscal Policy Institute: Inequality in New York & Options for Progressive Tax Reform

November 11, 2022

Income statistics have long shown that the top earners in New York State earn relatively more than their counterparts elsewhere in the U.S. Income inequality alone, however, provides an incomplete picture of the wealthiest households’ economic resources. In order to understand real economic power, we have to look at households’ wealth (their total net assets). […]

Fiscal Policy Institute: Unemployment Insurance Taxes Paid for Undocumented Workers in NYS

May 14, 2020

In the midst of a pandemic, there has been a growing call for undocumented immigrants, who make up five percent of the New York State labor force, to be covered by some form of unemployment insurance. What is often overlooked in discussions of unemployment insurance is the extent to which undocumented immigrants are already part […]

Fiscal Policy Institute: Dream Act: What’s At Stake for New York

December 1, 2017

There are 76,000 young immigrants who were potentially eligible for DACA that call New York home. They currently contribute a total of $115 million to local and state taxes annually through sales and excise taxes, property taxes and income tax. Read more

Fiscal Policy Institute: Immigrant Youth Add $140 Million to New York Tax Revenues

April 25, 2017

The report, conducted by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy and co-released in New York by the Fiscal Policy Institute, focuses on the executive order known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA. The executive order first went into effect in 2012, and in New York State, of the estimated 820,000 undocumented immigrants, about 76,000 are eligible for DACA.

Fiscal Policy Institute: Economic Contribution, Taxes Paid, and Occupations of Unauthorized Immigrants in New York State

April 3, 2017

There is a widespread misconception that unauthorized immigrants do not pay taxes. Yet, a careful national study prepared by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy—and coreleased in New York by the Fiscal Policy Institute with this report—finds that unauthorized immigrants currently pay $1.1 billion in state and local taxes in New York. Read more […]

Fiscal Policy Institute: New York’s Regressive Tax Structure and the 1% Plan for Tax Fairness

February 17, 2016

Those in the wealthiest 1% are taking home the lion’s share of income gains, yet they nevertheless pay a smaller share of their income in combined state and local taxes than lower and middle-income families. New York households with incomes under $100,000 pay higher effective state and local tax rates, ranging from 10.4% to 12%, […]

Local Progress: Progressive Policies for Raising Municipal Revenue

June 16, 2015

This report lays out a set of policy and political interventions that cities, regions, and states can make to increase municipal revenue and to make their collections more progressive. Cities have historically suffered enormous budget shortfalls and after the Great Recession, available funds depleted even more drastically. Read the full report here.

Fiscal Policy Institute: Property Tax Relief for Low- and Middle-Income Property New Yorkers Must Remain a Priority

May 28, 2015

Those making the least income relative to other New Yorkers would benefit more from the proposed circuit breaker than from a STAR rebate. Some 40 percent of taxpayers with incomes below $19,000 (the poorest fifth of New Yorkers) would receive a circuit breaker refund, according to an analysis of the governor’s proposal by the Institute […]

Fiscal Policy Institute: Policy Brief: Property Tax Relief (Circuit Breaker)

March 6, 2015

Those at the bottom of the income scale [in New York] would benefit most—62 percent of homeowners and 37 percent of renters with incomes below $19,000 would receive a circuit breaker refund according to an analysis of the governor’s proposal by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. Some 27 percent of homeowners and renters […]

Fiscal Policy Institute: NYS Can Help Low-income Working Families with Children by Increasing its Earned Income Tax Credit

August 1, 2014

It comes as no surprise to working families that New York State’s tax system is fundamentally unfair. Low- and middle-income workers pay, on average, a much higher share of their income in state and local taxes than the highest income earners. According to analysis by the Washington, D.C.-based Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, the […]

Fiscal Policy Center: Corning and MasterCard Paid .6% in State Taxes

April 15, 2014

As New York struggles with tough budget decisions about essential public services, profitable Fortunate 500 companies like Corning, MasterCard, Lowes and Consolidated Edison are paying 2% or less in state income taxes for 2012 thanks to copious loopholes, lavish giveaways and crafty accounting. The recently passed state budget did nothing to close these loopholes and […]

New York State Tax Reform and Fairness Comission: Final Report

November 21, 2013

The New York State Tax Reform and Fairness Commission conducted a comprehensive and objective review of the State’s taxation policy, considering ways to eliminate tax loopholes, promote administrative efficiency and enhance tax collection and enforcement. Read the Full Report

Fiscal Policy Institute: Immigration Reform Would Improve Economic Productivity

June 17, 2013

June 4, 2013. A new report from the Fiscal Policy Institute shows that legalizing undocumented immigrants, paired with labor standards enforcement, would boost economic productivity. Reform would remove barriers to advancement for newly legalized immigrants, create a level playing field for businesses, and align our systems of taxation, social services, and social insurance so that […]

Fiscal Policy Institute: New York State Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2013-2014

May 16, 2013

In addition to this Budget Overview section, this briefing also includes a section on the Economic Context for deliberations regarding the state’s 2013-2014 budget and a section on Tax Policy, a major focus of the Fiscal Policy Institute’s work. Read the Full Report (PDF)

Fiscal Policy Institute: Back on Track: Why Progressive Tax Reform Is an Essential Part of New York’s Budget Solution

January 14, 2013

New York faces one of the largest budget deficits in the country for the coming year at $14.2 billion. The State’s 2009-10 fiscal year begins April 1, 2009. Two responses to addressing the crisis have dominated the policy debate. While both acknowledge the detrimental impact Wall Street revenue declines have had on the State’s fiscal […]

Fiscal Policy Institute: The Tax Shift

January 8, 2013

New York State is at a crossroads. Our tax structure is scheduled to change in a way that will render state revenues inadequate for the budget years ahead. Hundreds of thousands of households struggle to pay property tax bills that represent an inordinate share of their incomes. And, in the aftermath of the Great Recession, […]

NYS Tax Reform and Fairness Commission: Promises Made But Not Yet Kept

December 17, 2012

The Governor has called for the creation of a Tax Reform and Fairness Commission to develop recommendations on how we might modify our current tax structure so that is fair to all New Yew Yorkers. The current tax system in the State of New York tends to put more of the state and local tax […]