Publications
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report February 15, 2005 State Corporate Income Taxes 2001-2003
Last September, Citizens for Tax Justice and the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy published Corporate Income Taxes in the Bush Years, an in-depth look at the taxes that 275… -
report December 14, 2004 The Impact of the Tennessee Tax Structure Study Commission’s Tax Reform Recommendations on Tax Fairness
Tennessee’s tax system is regressive, requiring low- and middle-income families to pay more of their income in tax than wealthier Tennesseans. A tax reform plan recently proposed by the Tennessee… -
report September 15, 2004 Corporate Income Taxes in the Bush Years
This study details which companies have benefitted the most from the decline in corporate taxes over the past three years, and which have been less fortunate. It also measures the… -
report September 15, 2004 The Effects of Replacing Most Federal Taxes with a National Sales Tax
Recently, there has been renewed discussion of the possibility of replacing most federal taxes with a national retail sales tax. Such an idea was broached in the 1990s, but political… -
report August 17, 2004 The Impact of the Ron Sims Tax Plan on Washington Tax Fairness
Washington’s tax system is regressive, requiring low- and middle-income families to pay far more of their income in tax than wealthier Washingtonians. A tax reform plan recently proposed by gubernatorial… -
brief July 1, 2004 A Primer on State Rainy Day Funds
In recent years, most state governments have experienced painful budget deficits. Many states have reacted to these shortfalls by cutting spending or increasing taxes. Almost all states now have a third option that can help postpone these painful decisions: using a rainy day fund (RDF). Like a savings account, an RDF sets aside surplus revenue during periods of economic growth for use in times of budget shortfalls. This policy brief takes a closer look at how rainy day funds can help states through difficult fiscal times, and assesses options for improving the adequacy of these funds.
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report May 15, 2004 Federal Taxation of Earnings Versus Investment Income in 2004
How do personal taxes on total investment income compare to taxes on earnings right now? This paper addresses that question. The analysis includes both the individual income tax, which applies… -
brief May 1, 2004 Value Added Taxes: An Option for States?
In recent months, lawmakers in a number of states have suggested that a particular type of sales tax, called the value-added tax or VAT, might be a cure-all for state budgetary problems. Although Michigan is the only state that currently relies on a VAT as a major revenue source, several other states have recently considered implementing this type of tax. This policy brief evaluates the case for (and against) implementing a VAT at the state level.
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brief May 1, 2004 State Corporate Tax Disclosure: Why It’s Needed
Corporate income taxes are in decline. Corporate tax revenues represent a smaller piece of the federal and state tax pie than at almost any time since World War II. While it is possible to diagnose some of the reasons for this decline on the federal level, very little public information is available to help policymakers evaluate the health of the corporate taxes collected by state governments. For this reason, some policymakers have called for better public disclosure of how much the biggest corporations are paying in state taxes. This policy brief evaluates arguments in favor of (and against) requiring detailed state corporate tax disclosure.
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report April 15, 2004 Does Personal Income Tax Progressivity Inhibit Economic Growth?
What is the relationship between income tax burdens and state economic growth? A December 2003 study by the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA), titled Income Tax Progressivity in Oklahoma:… -
report March 30, 2004 The Distributional Impact of SB 1374’s Personal Income Tax Changes
The Missouri personal income tax currently applies a graduated rate structure with tax rates ranging from 1.5 percent to 6 percent of taxable income. This rate structure is applied to… -
report March 10, 2004 ITEP Testimony on Maryland Tax Reform Options
My testimony today focuses on two revenue-raising tax bills introduced in the Maryland House of Delegates: HB 1061, the “Millionaire’s Tax Surcharge,” and HB 1306, the “Maryland Progressive Income Tax… -
report July 15, 2003 Tax Options for Arkansas: Funding Education After the Lake View Case
The purpose of this study is to analyze the implications of the Lake View case for the future of financing public education in Arkansas. The study has three broad goals:… -
report March 15, 2003 Options for Income Tax Simplification in Iowa
Simplicity is generally seen as a virtue in tax systems. The National Council of State Legislatures argues that a properly functioning tax system should “facilitate taxpayer compliance by avoiding a… -
report January 28, 2003 The Impact of Imposing a “Flat Tax” on Missouri Personal Income
The Missouri personal income tax currently applies a graduated rate structure with tax rates ranging from 1.5 percent to 6 percent of income. This rate structure is applied to a… -
report January 15, 2003 Who Pays? A Distributional Analysis of the Tax Systems of All 50 States [2003 Edition]
State governments are facing a profound fiscal crisis. In the past year, states have grappled with mounting budgetary shortfalls, as tax revenues have slumped while spending pressures have continued to… -
report October 5, 2002 Distributional Impact of Alaska Tax Options (PowerPoint)
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report August 20, 2002 NEW HAMPSHIRE: Impact of Options for Reforming New Hampshire’s Tax System (PowerPoint)
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report February 15, 2002 Balancing Act: Tax Reform Options for Illinois
The current fiscal shortfall represents a shortterm challenge to Illinois lawmakers—but it also provides an opportunity for lawmakers to craft tax reform solutions that will ensure the longterm solvency of… -
report April 11, 2001 Analysis of the Distributional Impact of HB 577 and HB 578
In April of 2001, Alabama legislators considered a pair of bills, HB 577 and HB 578, designed to modify the state’s personal income tax structure by creating a state Earned… -
report October 13, 2000 “Further Evidence” on the Linkage Between Income Taxes and Economic Growth?
Examining economic growth rates before and after a single policy change without attempting to control for other causal factors is not an exercise which should be taken seriously. The impact… -
report October 5, 2000 How Would Expanding Oregon’s Deduction for Federal Income Taxes Paid Affect Elderly Oregonians?
Oregon is one of nine states that currently allow taxpayers to claim federal income taxes paid as a deduction on personal income tax forms. Under current law, Oregon taxpayers can… -
report July 10, 2000 ITEP Testimony Before Virginia Tax Reform Commission
The Commission on Virginia’s State and Local Tax Structure for the 21st Century has an opportunity to offer a vision for equitable and sensible reform. Equity, simplicity and the interaction… -
report April 15, 2000 Revenue-Raising Plans for Louisiana: Who Pays?
The state of Louisiana is currently facing a substantial budget shortfall. Recent estimates suggest that legislators crafting the state’s fiscal year 2001 state budget must make up almost $5401 million… -
report February 15, 2000 Analysis of Virginia Tuition Tax Credit Proposal
The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) has analyzed the proposed “Virginia Children’s Educational Opportunity Act 2000” (H.B. 68 and S.B. 336), to measure the effects of the bill’s…