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Robert Bellafiore

Robert Bellafiore

Policy Analyst

Robert Bellafiore was a Policy Analyst with the Center for Federal Tax Policy at the Tax Foundation. Originally from Albany, New York, Robert is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, where he studied economics and philosophy.

Previously, he interned at the Heritage Foundation, where he contributed to the 2018 Index of Economic Freedom. Robert enjoys playing classical and jazz piano and reading literature.

Latest Work

Relative value of $100 in your state 2019 purchasing power 2019 price parity map, biggest bang for your buck states 2019 biggest bang for your buck states, price parity map, purchasing power, real income, nominal income, time value of money, best value states, price parity, purchasing power

Real Value of $100 by State, 2019

Adjusting incomes for price level can substantially change our perceptions of which states are truly rich or poor. Your dollar goes much further in states like Missouri or Ohio than in states like New York or California. What is the relative value of $100 in your state?

4 min read
Business taxes, business tax, consumer, shareholders,, economic progress

Business in America

Who are the workers, consumers, and shareholders who interact with businesses in the U.S.? What forms do these businesses take? How do business taxes impact people’s lives? It is essential we answer these questions in order to design a business tax system that is simple, efficient, and enables economic progress.

5 min read
tax expenditures corporate tax loopholes corporate loopholes

Not All Tax Expenditures Are Equal

The debate in Washington, D.C. often centers around tax expenditures, so-called corporate loopholes, in the tax code. But not all tax expenditures are created equal. Some represent neutral tax treatment and should be left alone, while others are distortionary and should be repealed. Understanding what a tax expenditure represents is essential for understanding how our tax code works for both businesses and individuals.

4 min read
Flag and buildings, corporate taxation, double taxation

The Lowered Corporate Income Tax Rate Makes the U.S. More Competitive Abroad

One of the most significant provisions in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was the reduction of the U.S. corporate income tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent. Over time, the lower corporate rate will encourage new investment and lead to additional economic growth. It will make the U.S. more attractive for companies by increasing after-tax returns on investments and will discourage companies from shifting profits to low-tax jurisdictions.

2 min read
Less than one percent of businesses employ almost half of the private sector workforce, business employment, employment and taxes

Firm Variation by Employment and Taxes

Less than one percent of businesses employ almost half of the private sector workforce. Large companies pay 89% of corporate income taxes in the United States.

2 min read
the payroll tax is regressive, while the income tax is progressive

New Report Shows the Burdens of Payroll and Income Taxes

The tax burden for most Americans in 2019 –67.8 percent—will come primarily from payroll taxes, not income taxes. While the income tax is progressive, with average rates rising with income, the payroll tax is regressive, with the highest average rate falling on Americans with the lowest incomes.

3 min read
marginal tax rates, taxes on the rich. top 1 percent tax rates, effective tax rate

The Top 1 Percent’s Tax Rates Over Time

In the 1950s, when the top marginal income tax rate reached 92 percent, the top 1 percent of taxpayers paid an effective rate of only 16.9 percent. As top marginal rates have fallen, the tax burden on the rich has risen.

4 min read
Amortizing Research and Development Expenses Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act research and development expensing

Amortizing Research and Development Expenses Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

Expensing, or the immediate write-off of R&D costs, is a valuable component of the current tax system. The TCJA’s change to amortization in 2022, requiring firms to write off their business costs over time rather than immediately, would raise the cost of investment, discourage R&D, and reduce economic output.

12 min read