Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP)

Conformity

Most states use the federal tax code as a starting point for their calculations of state personal income taxes, corporate income taxes, and estate taxes.

States Can Create or Expand Refundable Credits by Taxing Wealth, Addressing Federal Conformity

Many states already recognize the potential of these credits to boost low- and moderate-income households. Other states should follow suit.

No, Scott Bessent: States Aren’t Taking Away Anyone’s Tax Cuts

It’s wildly inappropriate for a U.S. Treasury Secretary to lean on states to adopt or not adopt specific federal provisions in their own state tax codes.

Linking to Tipped and Overtime Income Deductions Would Worsen State Shortfalls, Do Little to Help Workers

State deductions for tips and overtime are not only ineffective at supporting working-class people, it will come at a substantial cost to state budgets.

Conforming to the ‘No Tax on Tips’ Gimmick Just Got Riskier and Costlier for States

An unknown number of workers who previously were assumed to be ineligible for the tax break may nonetheless claim it.

Re-Examining 529 Plans: Stopping State Subsidies to Private Schools After New Trump Tax Law

The 2025 federal tax law risks making 529 plans more costly for states by increasing tax avoidance and allowing wealthy families to use these funds for private and religious K-12 schools.

State Tax Dollars Shouldn’t Subsidize Federal Opportunity Zones

The Opportunity Zones program benefits wealthy investors more than it benefits disadvantaged communities.

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States Begin Decoupling from Flawed ‘QSBS’ Tax Break

November 6, 2025 • By Nick Johnson, Sarah Austin

States Begin Decoupling from Flawed ‘QSBS’ Tax Break

A costly tax break for wealthy venture capitalists is drawing some critical attention from state policymakers.

Why States Shouldn’t Go Along With OBBBA’s Corporate Tax Breaks: A Practical Guide

States should immediately decouple from four costly corporate tax provisions in the new federal tax law.

Webinar: The Trump Tax Law’s Effect on State Tax Codes

This webinar focused on the ways the new tax law could impact state revenues by changing policies that state lawmakers will soon consider mirroring in their own income tax codes.

Quite Some BS: Expanded ‘QSBS’ Giveaway in Trump Tax Law Threatens State Revenues and Enriches the Wealthy

States should decouple from the federal Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) exemption.

SALT in the Wound: New Tax Law’s Limit on State Tax Deductions Exempts Some of the Very Wealthiest

The new tax law enacted last month found a temporary compromise on the level of the cap, boosting it to $40,000 through 2029, but failed to fix a loophole that allows some rich taxpayers with good accountants to completely avoid the cap

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States Should Move Quickly to Chart Their Own Course on SALT Deductions

July 17, 2025 • By Dylan Grundman O'Neill, Nick Johnson

States Should Move Quickly to Chart Their Own Course on SALT Deductions

While a federal SALT cap is hotly debated, capping deductibility at $10,000 was an unambiguously good idea at the state level. States would be smart to stick with the current cap or, better yet, go even farther and repeal SALT deductions outright. Going along with a higher federal SALT cap would double down on a regressive tax cut that will mostly benefit a small number of relatively wealthy state residents and cost states significant revenue.

Trump Megabill’s Deduction for Car Loan Interest Would Not Offset Tariff-Related Auto Price Increases for Most Buyers

The auto loan interest deduction that recently passed the House is designed, at least in part, to mitigate the impact of tariff-induced price increases on vehicles assembled in America. But the deduction is incapable of offsetting even small-scale price increases, especially for working-class families and others with moderate incomes.

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Tip Exemptions Have No Place in State Income Tax

March 25, 2025 • By Eli Byerly-Duke, Nick Johnson

Tip Exemptions Have No Place in State Income Tax

Creating a special tax break for tipped income – as at least 20 states are considering this spring – would harm state budgets, encourage tax avoidance, and fail to reach the vast majority of low- and middle-income workers.