Recent Work by ITEP
Over the past week Washington state saw a major victory for tax fairness after the state Supreme Court held the state’s capital gains tax—passed in 2021—constitutional...
How Local Governments Raise Revenue—and What it Means for Tax Equity
March 30, 2023 • By Andrew Boardman, Kamolika Das
Most local tax systems are falling short of their potential. Well-structured local tax policies support communities by facilitating important investments and advancing fairness, but the tax revenue sources most utilized by local governments tend to disproportionately weigh on households with fewer resources. Learning from these realities can inform the path to improved tax policies and stronger communities.
From dedicating new taxes to fund climate action and public health to vacancy and “mansion” taxes, many local leaders are already exploring ways to make their tax systems more progressive and sustainable. ITEP is committed to helping local leaders and advocates build on this work by advancing knowledge about local tax solutions.
Race-Conscious Tax Policy Discourse is Shifting the Conversation About the Tax Code
March 27, 2023 • By Brakeyshia Samms
As we look ahead to what comes next in our journey to a more race-conscious tax policy debate, it’s worth reflecting on how we got here and what we’ve learned along the way.
As nature bursts into life and color with the arrival of spring, state tax proposals are doing the same as the legislative seeds planted by lawmakers earlier this year start to grow, blossom, and in some cases rot. However, some governors are not entirely happy with what state lawmakers have produced.
States Prioritize Old Over Young in Push for Larger Senior Tax Subsidies
March 23, 2023 • By Carl Davis, Eli Byerly-Duke
Under a well-designed income tax based on ability to pay, it is simply not necessary to offer special tax subsidies to older adults but not younger families. At the end of the day, your income tax bill should depend on what you can afford to pay, not the year you were born. It’s really as simple as that.
State governments provide a wide array of tax subsidies to their older residents. But too many of these carveouts focus on predominately wealthy and white seniors, all while the cost climbs.
Effects of President Biden’s Proposal to Expand the Child Tax Credit
March 16, 2023 • By Joe Hughes
In his latest budget proposal, President Biden proposes enhancing the Child Tax Credit (CTC) based on the temporary credit that was in effect for 2021 as part of the American Rescue Plan Act. In this report we analyze how that proposal would help children and families.
It’s March and state lawmakers are showing why the Madness isn’t only reserved for the basketball court...
As one of the most prosperous countries in human history, we have enough resources for our collective needs. By better taxing corporations and the wealthiest, we can generate revenue to improve family security, strengthen our communities, and reduce the debt too.
ITEP in the News
Telegram: Trump has Turned America's Taxman into a Weapon against Migrants
Houston Chronicle: Texas Oil Companies Forecast Billions in Tax Breaks from Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Quartz: The $40,000 SALT Goldmine Only the Wealthy Will Actually Get
AP News: Georgia Republicans, Against Backdrop of 2026 Election, Push to Eliminate State Income Tax
Barron's: Social Security Is 90 Years Old. Trump Just Weighed In.
ITEP Work in Action
Democrat Committee on Education & Workforce: Ranking Member Bonamici Opening Remarks at ECESE Subcommittee Hearing on Reading and Math in K-12 Schools
Economic Policy Institute: Unions Aren’t Just Good for Workers—They Also Benefit Communities and Democracy
Hawai'i Appleseed: Incoming Federal Tax Cuts Will Heavily Favor Hawaiʻi’s Wealthiest Residents
New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute: New Federal Reconciliation Law Reduces Taxes, Health Access, and Food Assistance Supports for Granite Staters
United Ways of California: The Economic Impact of Immigrants in California
Institute on Taxation
and Economic Policy
ITEP is a non-profit, non-partisan tax policy organization. We conduct rigorous analyses of tax and economic proposals and provide data-driven recommendations to shape equitable and sustainable tax systems.
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