Carl Davis for the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy: [ M]any states traditionally considered to be “low-tax states” are actually high-tax for their poorest residents. The “low tax” label is typically assigned to states that either lack a personal income tax or that collect a comparatively low amount of tax revenue overall. But a focus on these measures can cause lawmakers to overlook the fact that state tax systems impact different taxpayers in very different ways, and that low-income taxpayers in particular often do not experience these states as being even remotely “low tax.”
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 October 23, 2018 Washington Examiner: Think tank: Texas Isn’t a Low-tax State if You’re Poor
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ITEP Work in Action October 19, 2018 CPPP: The Staggering Unfairness of Our State Tax System
Here’s one way to think about it: Families at the top of the income ladder receive 20 percent of all personal income in Texas, but pay only 8.5 percent of all state and local taxes. Families at the bottom of the scale receive only three percent of all income, but pay 5.7 percent of all taxes.
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ITEP Work in Action December 18, 2017 Center for Public Policy Priorities: The National Dream Act: What’s at stake for Texas?
Researchers estimate that approximately 177,000 young Texas immigrants are potentially eligible for DACA, and they currently contribute a total of $241 million to local and state taxes annually through sales… -
ITEP Work in Action September 26, 2017 Dallas Fed: Texas Taxes: Who Bears the Burden?
…Overall, the state’s tax system is less equal across income quintiles than the national average. A key reason is the state’s reliance on the sales tax, which as a share of income is 8.6 percent for those in the bottom quintile but only 2.2 percent in the top quintile…
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ITEP Work in Action January 15, 2013 Center for Public Policy Priorities: The Best Choice for a Prosperous Texas: A Texas-Style Personal Income Tax
The quality of life in Texas depends on our producing a well-educated workforce that can meet the demands of a global economy. A strong and vibrant public education for all… -
ITEP Work in Action January 14, 2013 Center for Public Policy Priorities: Who Pays Texas Taxes?
The Comptroller has just released her biennial study of the fairness of the Texas tax system, Texas Exemptions and Tax Incidence,1 which demonstrates conclusively that low-and moderate-income Texas families bear… -
ITEP Work in Action January 14, 2013 Center for Public Policy Priorities: Who Pays Texas Taxes
Our quality of life in Texas depends on our public structures-including public education, child health services, and transportation infrastructure–maintained by Texas tax dollars, A good tax system would not only…