• blog  December 17, 2024

    ITEP’s Top Charts of 2024

    As we close out 2024, we want to lift up the tax charts we published this year that received the most engagement from readers. Covering federal, state, and local tax work, here are our top charts of 2024. 

  • brief  December 12, 2024

    Federal Tax Debate 2025

    Congress will soon debate provisions from the Trump tax law that are set to expire at the end of 2025, as well as other tax policies that Trump proposed on the campaign trail. Here we examine what’s at stake as lawmakers consider significant changes to our tax system.

  • blog  December 12, 2024

    Defunding the IRS Would Cost Taxpayers

    As Congress negotiates a bill for federal funding during the lame-duck session, lawmakers would be wise to remember that stripping funds from the IRS costs more than it saves. On the table in the appropriations bill is a $20 billion recission of funds to the nation’s tax administration. While this may look like a spending cut, it will increase deficits by $46 billion due to a drop in the agency’s capacity to enforce taxes on wealthy individuals owed under existing federal law.

  • brief  December 5, 2024

    How Local Governments Raise Revenue — and What it Means for Tax Equity

    Local taxes are key to thriving communities. One in seven tax dollars in the U.S.—about $886 billion annually—is levied by local governments in support of education, infrastructure, public health, and other priorities. Three fourths of this funding comes from property taxes, 18 percent comes from sales and excise taxes, and six percent comes from income taxes.

  • blog  December 3, 2024

    State Rundown 12/3: Some States Cast Away Fiscal Responsibility as They Plan for 2025

    The 2025 legislative season will be here before we know it, and state lawmakers have begun unveiling their priorities and proposals. Unfortunately, despite stagnating revenue growth, many lawmakers continue to push for deep, regressive tax cuts – often before the full impact of previous tax cuts is felt.

  • blog  November 26, 2024

    Louisiana Lawmakers Pass Deeply Regressive Tax Plan

    Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry called the legislature back to the capitol the day after the national election to take up his plan to overhaul the state’s tax system during a 20-day special session. Our analysis shows the tax overhaul would worsen the inequity already rampant in Louisiana’s tax system while potentially shortchanging essential services for families across the state.

  • blog  November 26, 2024

    Average Louisianans Will Pay for Gov. Landry’s Tax Break for the Rich

    Tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations will not make Louisiana more competitive. Rather, they will blow a hole in the state budget while asking low- and middle-income working families to make up the difference. Gov. Landry and the Louisiana legislature would make much better use of their time looking for ways to make Louisiana’s tax structure fairer and more capable of adequately funding important priorities.

  • blog  November 21, 2024

    The Impact of Trump’s Proposed Tariffs

    The tariffs proposed by Donald Trump, which are far larger than any on the books today, would significantly raise the prices faced by American consumers across the income scale.

  • blog  November 20, 2024

    State Rundown 11/20: Some Budgets and Tax Proposals Fail to Defy Gravity, Fall Short

    This week, there are high-profile budget and tax debates at both the state and local levels. The Louisiana legislature continues to debate Gov. Jeff Landry’s…
  • blog  November 20, 2024

    State Tax Policy Should Adopt the Principles of ‘Black Women Best’

    Focusing policy analysis on Black women illustrates how Black women have long shouldered the shortcomings of the economy and clearly points to solutions that work for all. Black women are at their best when they are financially secure, healthy, and free – and our economy is at its best when all people can thrive and benefit.