Iowa
In Iowa 36.9 Percent of Trump’s Proposed Tax Cuts Go to People Making More than $1 Million
August 17, 2017 • By ITEP Staff
A tiny fraction of the Iowa population (0.4 percent) earns more than $1 million annually. But this elite group would receive 36.9 percent of the tax cuts that go to Iowa residents under the tax proposals from the Trump administration. A much larger group, 43.0 percent of the state, earns less than $45,000, but would receive just 7.0 percent of the tax cuts.
Trump Tax Proposals Would Provide Richest One Percent in Iowa with 44.7 Percent of the State’s Tax Cuts
July 20, 2017 • By ITEP Staff
Earlier this year, the Trump administration released some broadly outlined proposals to overhaul the federal tax code. Households in Iowa would not benefit equally from these proposals. The richest one percent of the state’s taxpayers are projected to make an average income of $1,164,200 in 2018. They would receive 44.7 percent of the tax cuts that go to Iowa’s residents and would enjoy an average cut of $84,860 in 2018 alone.
Investors and Corporations Would Profit from a Federal Private School Voucher Tax Credit
May 17, 2017 • By Carl Davis
A new report by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) and AASA, the School Superintendents Association, details how tax subsidies that funnel money toward private schools are being used as profitable tax shelters by high-income taxpayers. By exploiting interactions between federal and state tax law, high-income taxpayers in nine states are currently able […]
Public Loss Private Gain: How School Voucher Tax Shelters Undermine Public Education
May 17, 2017 • By Carl Davis, Sasha Pudelski
One of the most important functions of government is to maintain a high-quality public education system. In many states, however, this objective is being undermined by tax policies that redirect public dollars for K-12 education toward private schools.
Iowa Fiscal Partnership: Understanding Iowa Taxes
January 10, 2017 • By ITEP Staff
The Iowa Fiscal Partnership is pleased to distribute a new report by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy: The ITEP Guide to Fair State and Local Taxes. We hope you will find this useful in understanding and evaluating state and local tax policy. Many of the general tax principles and issues presented in the […]
Iowa Policy Project: $8.9 million revenue boost with immigration reform
April 6, 2016 • By ITEP Staff
“A new report projects a 24 percent increase in state and local tax revenues from undocumented immigrants in Iowa if they were granted permanent legal residence.” Read full report
TV Newsroom: Tax-Free Weekend Offers Great Savings
August 17, 2015 • By ITEP Staff
“The bottom line is that whatever policy goal you want to achieve through a sales tax holiday, there are probably better ways to achieve those goals”, said Matthew Gardner, executive director at the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.”
State Tax Notes: States Increase Gas Tax in Push for Transportation Funds
July 13, 2015 • By ITEP Staff
In the absence of a national gasoline tax increase, states have been raising their gas taxes to fund long-deferred road maintenance and transportation projects. “I think what’s happening now is a lot of states are having to play catch-up. They let their infrastructure deteriorate to a point where it’s an issue that can’t be ignored […]
TI News Daily: Some States Prefer Transportation Over Tax relief
July 8, 2015 • By ITEP Staff
To meet infrastructure needs, several states have had to increase other taxes, such as gasoline taxes. These states include Idaho, Iowa, Georgia, Nebraska, North Carolina, Kentucky, Utah and South Dakota. Four of these states are currently finalizing infrastructure funding increases or are still discussing infrastructure funding raises. “A lot of states realized they couldn’t put […]
Iowa Fiscal Partnership: Balanced approach on gas tax
March 6, 2015 • By ITEP Staff
Raising Iowa’s tax on gasoline and diesel fuel by 10 cents per gallon would go a long way toward financing needed street and highway repairs and improvements. Critical needs most recently were estimated at $215 million annually, and the 10 cents is projected to raise that amount by fiscal year 2018. Read the full report […]
Business Record: Low- to middle-income families shoulder greater tax burdens than wealthy ones
January 15, 2015 • By ITEP Staff
“The latest “Who Pays” report by the Washington-based Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy shows that the effect of sales taxes and property taxes on lower-income households tilts Iowa’s overall tax system so the poorest pay the highest percentage in taxes. “Iowa lawmakers for years have compounded inequities in Iowa’s overall tax system with their […]
Iowa Policy Project: Immigrants in Iowa
July 7, 2014 • By ITEP Staff
Undocumented immigrants pay an estimated $64 million in state and local taxes, according to a new Iowa Policy Project report. The authors suggest immigration reform that expands work authorization or access to citizenship would increase the already significant contribution to Iowa by all immigrants — documented or not. Read the Full Report
Radio Iowa: Immigrants account for 4.5 percent of state’s economic output
July 3, 2014 • By ITEP Staff
And Fisher says they would be far less at risk of workplace abuses or wage theft. Fisher and a research associate used government data as well as formulas from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy to determine how much undocumented immigrants pay in Iowa sales taxes, property taxes and income taxes. Fisher says undocumented […]
The Des Moines Register: Road Construction Running out of Gas?
May 27, 2014 • By ITEP Staff
By Editorial Board, May 25, 2014 Iowans on the road this Memorial Day weekend will likely encounter some traffic delays. It’s that time of the year when work gets underway on the state’s highways and bridges. The Iowa Department of Transportation is already looking down the road to $2.7 billion in major highway construction projects […]
The Gazette: Iowa Ranks Low for Keeping up with Gas Tax
May 19, 2014 • By ITEP Staff
By B.A. Morellie, May 19, 2014 A new report shows Iowa is one of 10 states where the gas tax, when considering inflation, is at a historic low. The report was critical of falling behind on the gas tax, saying the tax supports roads and transportation infrastructure, and many states are falling behind. “This isn’t […]
Des Moines Register: Iowa Fuel Tax Hits Low
May 12, 2014 • By ITEP Staff
By Jason Noble, May 10, 2014 “Iowa is one of 10 states in which fuel taxes have hit an inflation-adjusted “all-time low,” according to a report issued last week by a Washington think tank. The state’s current 19 cents per gallon tax on fuel has been in place since 1989. Inflation over that time, though, […]
Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier: Gas tax
April 2, 2014 • By ITEP Staff
(Original Post) A new fact sheet from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy indicates Iowa is one of seven states where the gas tax rates are “stuck in neutral.” According to the institute’s analysis, 21 states have gone a decade or more without increasing their gas tax rates and 16 states have gone two […]
Globe Gazette: Iowa’s Among Gas Tax Rates Stuck in Neutral
April 2, 2014 • By ITEP Staff
(Original Post) A new fact sheet from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy indicates Iowa is one of seven states where the gas tax rates are “stuck in neutral.” According to the institute’s analysis, 21 states have gone a decade or more without increasing their gas tax rates and 16 states have gone two […]
The Daily Iowan: Raise the gas tax to increase revenue
February 22, 2013 • By ITEP Staff
(Original Post) BY DI EDITORIAL BOARD | FEBRUARY 22, 2013 5:00 AM The Iowa Legislature has considered a proposal that would increase by 10 cents Iowa’s motor-fuel tax, more commonly called the gas tax. This proposal is politically unpopular, given that gases prices are relatively high and the economy has not fully recovered. However, as […]
Iowa Fiscal Partnership: Putting Fairness First: Questions for Financing State and Local Government in Iowa
January 15, 2013 • By ITEP Staff
As state legislators close out the 2008 legislative session and confront the tasks of maintaining commitments and investing in Iowa’s future, they will have to deal with a basic question: How is the budget gap to be financed? Each financing decision has a different set of consequences for Iowans at different income levels. This means […]
Iowa Policy Project: Undocumented Immigrants in Iowa: Estimated Tax Contributions and Fiscal Impact
January 14, 2013 • By ITEP Staff
This report examines undocumented immigrants in Iowa and their state tax contributions. Undocumented immigration remains a controversial issue in the United States, especially as the failure of federal immigration legislation has contributed to what the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) describes as “an unprecedented level of activity” in state legislative bodies as states seek […]
The Iowa Independent: Report: Iowa tax code favors wealthiest residents
January 4, 2013 • By ITEP Staff
(PDF of Original Post) By Jason Hancock 11/18/09 10:39 AM Moderate- and low-income Iowans pay a greater share of their income in state and local taxes than the rich do, according to a new report from two non-partisan research organizations. According the report, Iowa families earning less than $20,000 a year — the poorest fifth […]
Globe Gazette: Study says Iowa tax system unfair to poor
January 4, 2013 • By ITEP Staff
(PDF of Original Post) DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s tax laws force poor residents to pay a much higher percentage of their income in taxes than the state’s wealthiest citizens, according to two researchers who called Wednesday for lawmakers to overhaul the system. “It’s an old problem and a persistent one,” said Peter Fisher, […]
Des Moines Register: Aim for fairness in state tax policy
January 4, 2013 • By ITEP Staff
(PDF of Original Post) The Register’s editorial The political debate over taxes these days ranges from “We will not raise taxes” to “We will cut taxes.” There is little interest, it seems, in raising taxes, but there should at least be interest in the idea that taxes ought to be fair. By fair, that means […]
Mount Vernon-Libson Sun: Sun Editorial: Look at the complicated when tackling Iowa’s budget
January 4, 2013 • By ITEP Staff
(PDF of Original Post) We sure hope our state leaders take the “road less traveled” when the legislative session convenes this coming month and they face a $1 billion revenue shortfall. Certainly, cuts are needed. We laud those coming up with places to trim. In fact, we like a mix of ideas from Democrats to […]
