Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP)

Recent Work

2316 items
Testimony before the Maryland Business Tax Commission: Combined Reporting

I’m here to talk about combined reporting, which ITEP views as a vital step towards ensuring the vitality of the Maryland corporate income tax going forward.  I’d like to use my allotted time to discuss one important policy choice that Maryland policymakers must make in implementing combined reporting. Read the Full Report (PDF)  

Census Data Reveal Washington’s Fundamental Tax Mismatch: Washington is a Low Tax State, But Not for Families Living in Poverty

Recently released data from the Census Bureau confirms that overall Washington could be considered a “low tax state.” However, families living near or below the poverty line generally do not experience Washington as a low tax state — instead, they pay more than their fair share of state and local taxes.. Read the Full Report […]

Census Data Reveal Texas’ Fundamental Tax Mismatch: Texas is a Low Tax State, But Not for Families Living in Poverty

Recently released data from the Census Bureau confirms that overall Texas could be considered a “low tax state.” However, families living near or below the poverty line generally do not experience Texas as a low tax state — instead, they pay more than their fair share of state and local taxes. Read the Full Report […]

Census Data Reveal Tennessee’s Fundamental Tax Mismatch: Tennessee is a Low Tax State, But Not for Families Living in Poverty

Recently released data from the Census Bureau confirms that overall, Tennessee could be considered a “low tax state.” However, families living near or below the poverty line generally do not experience Tennessee as a low tax state — instead, they pay more than their fair share of state and local taxes. Read the Full Report […]

Census Data Reveal Florida’s Fundamental Tax Mismatch: Florida is a Low Tax State, But Not for Families Living in Poverty

Recently released data from the Census Bureau confirms that overall, Florida could be considered a “low tax state.” However, families living near or below the poverty line generally do not experience Florida as a low tax state — instead, they pay more than their fair share of state and local taxes. Read the Full Report […]

Census Data Reveal Arkansas Fundamental Tax Mismatch: Arkansas is a Low Tax State, But Not for Families Living in Poverty

Recently released data from the Census Bureau confirms that overall, Arkansas could be considered a “low tax state.” However, families living near or below the poverty line generally do not experience Arkansas as a low tax state — instead, they pay more than their fair share of state and local taxes. Read the Full Report […]

Census Data Reveal Arizona’s Fundamental Tax Mismatch: Arizona is a Low Tax State, But Not for Families Living in Poverty

Recently released data from the Census Bureau confirms that overall Arizona could be considered a “low tax state.” However, families living near or below the poverty line generally do not experience Arizona as a low tax state — instead, they pay more than their fair share of state and  local taxes.   Read the Full […]

Credit Where Credit is (Over) Due: Four State Tax Policies Could Lessen the Effect that State Tax Systems Have in Exacerbating Poverty

The ongoing recession has had an unrelenting impact on families and communities in every state across the country. Millions of Americans are without work and in many cases those with jobs are experiencing reduced work hours and wages. New poverty figures from the US Census suggest that the road to economic security will be a […]

“Writing Off” Tax Giveaways: How States Can Help Balance Their Budgets by Reforming or Repealing Itemized Deductions

“Writing Off” Tax Giveaways examines options for reforming itemized deductions in the thirty-one states, plus DC, that offer such deductions. The study, released on August 24, 2010, focuses on five potential reforms: repealing itemized deductions entirely, capping the maximum size of itemized deductions, converting itemized deductions to a credit, instituting a phase-out for upper-income taxpayers, […]

ITEP’s Testimony on TRAC Sales and Use Tax Proposal

My testimony today offers several broad thoughts on the implications of the proposals for sales and use tax reform laid out so far by the Tax Realignment Commission (TRAC). The testimony stresses that while base-broadening is of paramount importance in achieving a more sustainable state sales tax, policymakers should be aware of the need for […]

ITEP Podcast on Maine Voters’ Rejection of Tax Reform – download audio (.mp3)

Download the MP3

Pending Georgia Tax Changes Would Redistribute Income From the Poorest Families to the Rich

In the 2010 legislative session, Georgia lawmakers have ratified, or are poised to ratify, a set of tax changes which would dramatically reshape the fairness of the state’s tax system. A new ITEP analysis shows that these changes would increase the taxes paid by the poorest ninety five percent of Georgians, while cutting taxes for […]

Massey Pays One-Sixth of 35% Federal Tax Rate, Little in State Income Tax

A new analysis shows that Massey Energy, which owned the Upper Big Branch mine where 29 West Virginia miners were killed last week, paid an average of 5.6 percent of its profits in federal income taxes over the last three years—despite having large profits in each year. This is less than one-sixth of the statutory […]

Leaving Money on the Table: “Federal Offset” Provides Incentive for States to Rely on Progressive Income Taxes

Seven states—Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming—have chosen to make up for the lack of an income tax by increasing their reliance on general sales taxes.1 The result is an “upside down” state tax system, which imposes higher effective tax rates on middle- and low-income families than on the best-off taxpayers. But […]

Does Alabama’s Tax System “Redistribute Wealth”?

Last week, an Alabama legislative committee approved a bill, House Bill 1, that would take an important step towards making one of the most unfair tax systems in the nation somewhat less unfair. Some opponents of the bill have characterized it as a “redistribution of wealth” from the best-off families to low-income taxpayers. However, these […]

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