ITEP Work in Action
American Progress: DACA Recipients Bolster Social Security and Medicare
January 29, 2024
Eight years of survey data have shown that DACA recipients’ average reported hourly wages have increased by 137.2 percent, from $11.92 per hour in 2015 to $28.27 per hour in 2022. This not only benefits recipients and their families but also the entire country: According to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, thanks to DACA, recipients are able to contribute more in taxes as a result of increased employment rates, earnings, and tax compliance rates.
ITEP’s Carl Davis: Who Pays Vermont Taxes?
January 29, 2024
ITEP Research Director Carl Davis gave a presentation on Vermont’s tax system to that state’s Ways and Means Committee on January 25, 2024. Click here for the slide deck.
Hawai’i Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice: Rebalance Hawaii’s Upside-Down Tax Code to Achieve Prosperity for All
January 24, 2024
Our state tax code makes the situation worse. A comprehensive analysis of state and local taxes across the country shows that Hawaii is the third-worst state when it comes to taxing struggling working families. Households in the lowest income category pay an effective tax rate of 14.1%, while the richest 1% pay an effective tax rate of 10.1%
Oregon Center for Public Policy: Oregon’s Tax System is Fundamentally Unfair, but We Can Fix It
January 23, 2024
If you were designing a tax system from scratch, who would you tax at a higher rate: a low-income family struggling to pay the rent and put food on the table, or a rich family making way more money than they spend?
The Commonwealth Institute: How the Governor’s Proposal Increases Taxes for Low-Income Families, Gives Significant Cuts to the Wealthy
January 23, 2024
When we all pitch in our fair share, we can invest in the programs and services that help everyone to thrive, like public education, affordable housing, and more. But Virginia’s tax code is upside-down, where those with the most pay the least taxes as a share of income.
Testimony of Prosperity Indiana’s Andrew Bradley Before the Indiana State and Local Tax Review Task Force
January 16, 2024
On January 10, Andrew Bradley, Policy Director at Prosperity Indiana, testified before the State and Local Tax Review Task Force of the Indiana General Assembly. During his presentation, Bradley highlighted Prosperity Indiana’s tax policy priorities and ITEP’s Who Pays? findings. To watch the video, click here (Bradley’s testimony begins at 1:55:40) To read written testimony […]
New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department: New Mexico Among Top 10 for Tax Equity
January 15, 2024
New Mexico is now among the top 10 states for most equitable tax structures thanks mostly to changes signed into law by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham over the past five years, according to a new report by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP). Read more.
Washington State House Democrats: WA Improves Tax Equity Based On New Report
January 15, 2024
Washington’s tax system is becoming more fair for working families. Read more.
Oxfam: Do the Rich Pay Their Fair Share?
January 15, 2024
Paying your fair share of taxes strikes at the heart of fundamental fairness. Does everyone play by the same rules? Does our government have the resources it needs to provide the services we all rely on, from schools to roads to firefighters? Read more.
Massachusetts Budget & Policy Center: How Much Does the Millionaire Tax Improve Tax Fairness? How Does Massachusetts Compare Now to Other States?
January 10, 2024
A new 50-state analysis from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) finds that Massachusetts’ recently adopted millionaire tax makes Massachusetts’ state and local tax system much more equitable. Even under current law, however, those with incomes over $1 million still will pay a smaller share of their income in state and local taxes […]
Common Good Iowa: Tax Cuts: What’s At Stake for Iowans
January 4, 2024
The income tax is a way Iowans come together to lay strong foundations that create opportunity and help people thrive. Governor Reynolds and legislative leaders want to eliminate Iowa’s personal income tax — a virtual promise to decimate the services that make Iowa a better place to live, work and raise a family. Read more.
Keystone Research Center: Fair Taxation Can Help Achieve a More Just Pittsburgh
December 13, 2023
Over the past several years, federal funding via the American Rescue Plan (ARP) has temporarily boosted City of Pittsburgh revenues and allowed increased investment in affordable housing, workforce training, healthy and accessible food programs, public safety, and public transportation. ARP funds, however, will expire in 2024, leaving a $30.6 million shortfall in the city budget. This […]
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: States’ Recent Tax-Cut Spree Creates Big Risks for Families and Communities
December 1, 2023
State policymakers nationwide have embarked on a tax-cutting spree over the past three years, using the cover of temporary budget surpluses stemming from robust federal aid in response to COVID-19 and the economic recovery that followed. The tax cuts — most of which are both permanent and tilted toward wealthy households and corporations — will […]
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro: Cuts To the IRS Would Protect Tax Cheats Over Honest, Hard-Working Families
November 21, 2023
Thank you Chairman Womack, Ranking Member Hoyer, and the subcommittee staff, especially Matt Smith and Philip Tizzani, for all the work that you do. This Financial Services and General Government bill put forth by the majority is unacceptable. The Republicans propose cutting critical agencies the American people depend on for a stable, secure, safe, and […]
North Carolina Budget & Tax Center: NC Leaders Are Shirking Their Responsibilities To Our Children, Our State by Revisiting Leandro Lawsuit
November 17, 2023
The announcement that the NC Supreme Court will rehear the court case that affirmed children’s constitutional right to a sound, basic education is just another way in which North Carolina’s legislative leaders are attempting to rewrite the rules to further their agenda rather than the well-being of children. Read more.
Kentucky Center for Economic Policy: Local Sales Tax Amendment Could Lead to Wider Inequality Without Better Funding Local Services
November 17, 2023
Under Kentucky’s constitution, there are limits on the types of taxes the General Assembly may authorize local governments to levy, and local sales taxes are not allowed. The 2024 General Assembly may take the first step toward changing that if it considers an amendment to the constitution that would grant the legislature broader authority on […]
Policy Matters Ohio: Tax Policy For the People
November 10, 2023
Every family in Ohio should be able to afford healthy food, a safe home, health care and the other elements of a good life. Ohio has the resources to make this a reality. Too often, however, our elected officials choose to use those resources to enrich their already wealthy supporters and do whatever else it […]
DC Fiscal Policy Institute: Taxing Capital Gains More Robustly Can Help Reduce DC’s Racial Wealth Gap
November 1, 2023
The federal and DC governments tax income from wealth more favorably than income from work. This preferential treatment means we under tax the most well-off, tax their wealth less often, and, in some cases, allow them to accumulate fortunes and pass vast sums of wealth to heirs tax-free. Read more.
America’s Voice: Debunking Five Of The Scary Lies That Republicans Tell About Immigrants
November 1, 2023
While Halloween comes around only once a year, Republicans can’t help but tell terrifying stories about scary brown people all year long. Of course, these horror stories are complete lies, yet we still see and hear them in campaign speeches, tweets, and Congressional hearings. Let’s debunk five of the worst lies about immigrants. Read more.
Accountable.us: Right-Wing Think Tank Competitive Enterprise Institute Using Supreme Court Case Moore v U.S. To Push Its Corporate Funders’ Anti-Tax Agenda
October 23, 2023
Moore v. US, which is set to be heard by the Supreme Court on December 5th, threatens to deliver a major victory to multinational corporations and billionaires hoping to avoid paying their fair share in taxes. Read more.
ITEP’s Carl Davis: Who Pays New Mexico Taxes?
October 22, 2023
ITEP Research Director Carl Davis gave a presentation on New Mexico’s tax system to that state’s Revenue Stabilization and Tax Policy Committee on October 19, 2023. Click here for the slide deck.
Every Texan: Proposition 3 Will Maintain Texas’ Extreme Wealth Inequality
October 21, 2023
We all benefit when everyday Texans, regardless of where we live or what we look like, have a fair opportunity to prosper. Contrarily, a state tax system designed to favor the ultra-wealthy undermines all of us. In Texas, the wealth gap is so extreme that 66 billionaires living in the state own more wealth than 70% […]
Testimony of Neva Butkus Before the Indiana State and Local Tax Review Task Force
October 20, 2023
Today ITEP State Policy Analyst Neva Butkus presented to the Indiana State and Local Tax Review Task Force. For a related blog from Neva, click here. For her slide deck, click here. Good morning members of the State and Local Tax Review Task Force, Thank you for providing me the opportunity to share ITEP’s findings […]
ITEP’s Andrew Boardman: The State of Local Taxes in Alaska
October 1, 2023
In late September, ITEP Local Policy Analyst Andrew Boardman presented on the state of local taxes in Alaska to the Presentation at the Alaska Municipal League 2023 Tax Conference. Click here for the slide deck.
Policy Matters Ohio: Ohio Needs a Property-Tax Circuit Breaker
October 1, 2023
Sharp rises in home assessment values are bringing property-tax relief to the forefront at the Statehouse in Columbus. While various bills may provide a partial answer to the property tax squeeze being felt by some Ohioans, there is a better solution. It’s one that has been embraced by states across the country: A property-tax circuit […]
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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