Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP)

Maryland

blog  

State Rundown 11/2: Midterms on the Mind

• By ITEP Staff

Next Tuesday, voters will head to the polls to not only elect local and national leaders, but also let their voices be heard on a range of tax policy issues that could improve or worsen their state tax codes...

news release  

Report: Ten States Hold 71 Percent of America’s Extreme Wealth

• By ITEP Staff

Tackling wealth inequality through the tax code can boost economic opportunity   Washington, DC: Wealth inequality is rampant in every state and particularly concentrated in a handful of states, according to a first-of-its-kind analysis released today by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP). This extreme wealth hinders economic opportunities for all but the […]

report  

The Geographic Distribution of Extreme Wealth in the U.S.

• By Carl Davis

More than one in four dollars of wealth in the U.S. is held by a tiny fraction of households with net worth over $30 million. Nationally, we estimate that wealth over $30 million per household will reach $26 trillion in 2022 with roughly one-fifth of that amount ($4.5 trillion) held by billionaires.

blog  

State Rundown 9/21: Earth, Wind, Fire & Taxes Edition

• By ITEP Staff

Do you remember/the big tax news innn September? Well, if not, we at ITEP got you covered...

brief  

Boosting Incomes and Improving Tax Equity with State Earned Income Tax Credits in 2022

• By Aidan Davis

States continued their recent trend of advancing EITCs in 2022, with nine states plus the District of Columbia either creating or improving their credits. Utah enacted a 15 percent nonrefundable EITC, while the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Vermont and Virginia expanded existing credits. Meanwhile, Connecticut, New York and Oregon provided one-time boosts to their EITC-eligible populations.

brief  

More States are Boosting Economic Security with Child Tax Credits in 2022

• By Aidan Davis

After years of being limited in reach, there is increasing momentum at the state level to adopt and expand Child Tax Credits. Today ten states are lifting the household incomes of families with children through yearly multi-million-dollar investments in the form of targeted, and usually refundable, CTCs.

blog  

Gimmicky Sales Tax Holidays Are Short-Term and Ineffective

• By Marco Guzman

Everyone loves a deal, so it’s no surprise why the appeal of the state sales tax holiday continues to persist. This year, 20 states will forgo more than $1 billion in combined revenue to enact a variety of sales tax holidays that—like most things that are too good to be true—will do little to provide meaningful benefits and instead undermine funding for public services.

blog  

State Rundown 7/27: It’s (Sales Tax) Holiday Season, But Who’s Really Celebrating?

• By ITEP Staff

It’s the holiday season – well, the sales tax holiday season, that is. But after taking a closer look, you may notice that there is little to celebrate...

blog  

Most States Used Surpluses to Reduce Taxes But Not in Sustainable or Progressive Ways

• By Kamolika Das

The average person on the street would have no idea that many states experienced unprecedented budget surpluses this year. Iowa, for instance, has the most structurally deficient bridges of any state with nearly 1 in 5 falling apart. The Iowa Board of Regents proposed a 4.25 percent tuition increase for all three state universities and […]

blog  

New ITEP Brief Shows How State Sales Tax Holidays Fail to Live Up to the Hype

• By Marco Guzman

Twenty states this year have decided to go so far as to forgo a combined $1 billion in vital tax revenue in favor of conveniently popular yet ultimately ineffective sales tax holidays. Whether it’s a state looking for a way to help families manage the rising cost of goods or to celebrate back-to-school shopping season, these policy options are poorly targeted and an inadequate use of state tax revenue that could be doing more to…

brief  

Sales Tax Holidays: An Ineffective Alternative to Real Sales Tax Reform

• By Marco Guzman

Lawmakers in many states have enacted “sales tax holidays” (20 states will hold them in 2022) to temporarily suspend the tax on purchases of clothing, school supplies, and other items. These holidays may seem to lessen the regressive impacts of the sales tax, but their benefits are minimal while their downsides are significant—particularly as lawmakers have sought to apply the concept as a substitute for more meaningful, permanent reform or arbitrarily reward people with specific…

blog  

State Rundown 6/29: Sun’s Out, Session’s (Still) In

• By ITEP Staff

Although the sun is shining and Independence Day is right around the corner, many state lawmakers are still indoors hammering out the details of future budgets or still hard at work passing laws...

blog  

State Rundown 6/22: Southern States Edition

• By ITEP Staff

With many state legislative sessions wrapped or wrapping up, we at ITEP want to take a moment to direct your attention south, and specifically, to the American South...

report  

Creating Racially and Economically Equitable Tax Policy in the South

• By Kamolika Das

The South's negative outcomes on measures of wellbeing are the result of a century and a half of policy choices. Lawmakers have many options available to make concrete improvements to tax policy that would raise more revenue, do so equitably, and generate resources that could improve schools, healthcare, social services, infrastructure, and other public resources.

blog  

State Rundown 5/25: Tax Discussions Heating Up as Summer Begins

• By ITEP Staff

While the temperature ticks up outside, the temperature in state legislatures around the country has fallen slightly. But with several states still dealing with ongoing tax and budget issues, this summer could be a hot one...

blog  

State Rundown 4/20: New Tax Changes in Full Bloom

• By ITEP Staff

This Spring looks to be bringing a mix of showers and flowers as states around the nation continue to act on a range of tax proposals...

blog  

State Rundown 4/6: Late-Session Surprises Pt. 2

• By ITEP Staff

Last week we highlighted how several states were pushing through regressive tax cuts as their legislative sessions are coming to a close. Well, this week many of those same states took further actions on those bills and it’s safe to say we’re even less impressed than before...

blog  

Racial Discrimination in Home Appraisals Is a Problem That’s Now Getting Federal Attention

• By Brakeyshia Samms

With both assessments and appraisals being unfair, homeowners of color are stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to determining the worth of what is, for most homeowners, their most valuable asset.

blog  

State Rundown 3/30: Late-Session Surprises Leave Us Unimpressed

• By ITEP Staff

Several states have dropped a few late-session surprises, and from the looks of it, they’re not the good kind...

blog  

State Rundown 3/16: The Scramble to Curb Rising Gas Prices is On

• By ITEP Staff

Rising gas prices have lawmakers around the country searching for ways to ease the pressure on consumers and almost half the states are considering reducing or temporarily repealing their gas tax, but another idea is taking hold...

blog  

State Rundown 2/23: Temporary Surplus, Permanent Cuts

• By ITEP Staff

Several state legislatures are continuing to push ahead this year with significant tax cut packages that are regressive and would dramatically reduce revenues and leave states in a bad position should they experience another unexpected economic shock...

blog  

State Rundown 2/16: Spending Priorities Emerge as the Votes Are Counted

• By ITEP Staff

State lawmakers have been busy working out deals and negotiating how best to use excess revenues, and as the votes are beginning to come in, spending priorities are becoming clearer...

blog  

State Rundown 2/10: Dems Also Set Sights on Tax Cuts

• By ITEP Staff

While record state revenue surpluses have led to big pushes in red states to make unnecessary permanent income and corporate tax cuts, Democrats are also getting in on the tax-cut mania...

report  

Federal EITC Enhancements Help More Than One in Three Young Workers

• By Aidan Davis

More than one in three young adults would benefit from workers without children being eligible to receive the federal EITC. This policy change would bolster young adults’ economic security.

blog  

State Rundown 2/2: The First Tax Cut Domino Falls…

• By ITEP Staff

One-time payments have become a common theme around the country, as Idaho is one of roughly eleven states with plans to provide tax relief in a similar fashion...