Expert
Jared Walczak
Vice President of State Projects
Jared Walczak is Vice President of State Projects at the Tax Foundation. He is the lead researcher on the annual State Business Tax Climate Index and Location Matters, and has authored or coauthored tax reform guides on Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Jared’s work is regularly cited in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Politico, AP, and many other prominent national and state outlets.
He previously served as legislative director to a member of the Senate of Virginia and as policy director for a statewide campaign, and consulted on research and policy development for a number of candidates and elected officials. In his free time, Jared enjoys hiking and has a goal of visiting all 63 national parks.
Latest Work
Will Illinois Double Down on High Taxes?
Amending the Illinois constitution and adopting a graduated-rate income tax cannot solve the state’s fundamental problems. Instead, it doubles down on an already uncompetitive tax code.
16 min read
How an Unexpected Revenue Ruling Penalizes Capital Investment in Pennsylvania, and How Lawmakers Can Fix It
Failure to reverse this newly adverse treatment of capital investment makes it less likely that businesses will invest in Pennsylvania.
15 min read
Idaho Tax Reform Bill Advances
3 min read
State and Local Sales Tax Rates, 2018
In addition to state-level sales taxes, consumers also face local sales taxes in 38 states. These rates can be substantial, so a state with a moderate statewide sales tax rate could actually have a very high combined state and local rate.
11 min read
Pennsylvania’s New Penalties on Investment Could Scare off Amazon, Others
While other states are working to promote growth, Pennsylvania is headed in the opposite direction with a policy that dramatically overtaxes investment.
4 min read
West Virginia Constitutional Amendment Would Roll Back Property Taxes on Machinery and Equipment
Governor Justice’s proposal to roll back West Virginia’s tangible personal property tax, a tax on equipment and machinery, is an opportunity improve the state’s outmoded property tax structure.
4 min read
Tax Reform Moves to the States: State Revenue Implications and Reform Opportunities Following Federal Tax Reform
Federal tax reform gives states an opportunity to improve their own tax codes. This study surveys the federal provisions to which states conform, what each state can expect from federal tax changes, and what options are available to them.
58 min read
Washington Legislature Considers B&O Tax Surcharge
Legislation introduced in Washington State correctly diagnoses the problem with the state’s B&O tax, but the proposed remedy could use some work.
6 min read
New York Taxpayers Must Pay for Ill-Advised Lawsuit Seeking Tax Cuts for Wealthiest Residents
New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut are pursuing a questionable legal strategy to overturn the cap on a federal tax deduction that benefits the wealthy.
5 min read
More States Considering Dubious SALT Charitable Contribution Workaround
California’s plan to circumvent the new state and local tax deduction cap is dubious, but now Illinois, Nebraska, Virginia, and Washington are considering similar plans.
3 min read
Mississippi Lawmakers Consider Creation of State Lottery
As Mississippi policymakers contemplate a lottery, it may be tempting to think of it as free money—new revenue raised without having to adopt a new tax. A better way of thinking about the issue, however, would recognize the lottery for what it is: a regressive form of high implicit taxation.
3 min read