
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


How the State and Local Tax Deduction Influences State Tax Policy
The state and local tax deduction isn’t just a costly federal subsidy. It also skews state and local tax policy decisions.
2 min read
2018 State Business Tax Climate Index
For 15 years, our State Business Tax Climate Index has been the standard for legislators and taxpayers to understand how their state’s tax code compares and how it can be improved. Now, for the first time ever, you can explore our Index’s 100+ variables in an easy to use, interactive format.
16 min read

Ohio’s Commercial Activity Tax: A Reappraisal
The Ohio Commercial Activity Tax, a 0.26 percent tax on business gross receipts above $1 million, is a throwback to an earlier era of taxation, bringing back a tax type that had been in steady retreat for nearly a century.
34 min read


State Inheritance and Estate Taxes: Rates, Economic Implications, and the Return of Interstate Competition
Estate and inheritance taxes reduce investment, discourage business expansion, and sometimes drive wealthy taxpayers out of state. It’s little wonder that states are under pressure to reduce or eliminate them.
44 min read



Unpacking the State and Local Tax Toolkit: Sources of State and Local Tax Collections
There are a number of sources of state and local tax collections each with important implications for revenue stability and economic growth. Which taxes does your state and/or locality rely on most?
22 min read




Beer Taxes by State, 2017
3 min read