States Should Conform to These Four CARES Act Provisions to Enhance Business Liquidity
As policymakers continue evaluating their evolving revenue and spending options, the importance of enacting policies that enhance business liquidity must remain at the forefront.
9 min read
What the Internet Can Teach Us About Capital Investment, Infrastructure, and Tax Policy
The lockdowns imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic induced an increase in demand for broadband internet, as work from home and other social distancing measures pushed people to spend more time online. As broadband becomes a more important piece of America’s infrastructure, it makes sense to look at tax policy that will help drive more investment and better service.
2 min read
Weighing the Benefits of Permitting Business Credit Cashouts in Phase 4 Economic Relief
As lawmakers explore options for “Phase 4” coronavirus relief legislation, one idea that has received renewed attention is allowing businesses to cash out business tax credits. This proposal would be strengthened by also permitting acceleration of firms’ accrued net operating loss (NOL) deductions and designing the proposal so that firms can quickly convert these tax assets into cash.
4 min read
Germany Adopts a Temporary VAT Cut
Tax policy responses to the pandemic should be designed to provide immediate support while paving the way to recovery. A temporary VAT rate cut in the context of an inefficient VAT system is likely to deliver mixed results at best.
4 min read
Seattle Officials Return with New Proposal for Taxing Employment
Seattle’s city council are again gearing up for an effort to increase taxes on the city’s largest employers, intended to generate revenue for cash assistance to low-income households impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, among other reasons.
4 min read
D.C. Council to Consider Tax Hike Despite Balanced Budget
Despite a balanced budget and and revenue shortfalls arising from the coronavirus crisis, the D.C. Council will consider proposals to raise income taxes to fund newly proposed spending projects.
5 min read
Inefficiencies Created by the Tax System’s Dependence on Economic Depreciation
One idea that would help the nation’s economic recovery during the coronavirus crisis would be moving to full expensing of capital investment. The depreciation debate might seem confusing, so the question at hand is: how, when, and by what amount can businesses recognize (or recover) the cost of a capital investment, like a piece of equipment or a new warehouse, on their income tax return?
6 min read
Colorado Tobacco Tax Bill Includes Positive Change
While it is understandable that lawmakers and organizers are worried about Colorado’s financial situation, they should remember that narrow taxes are volatile and disrupt markets. Excise taxes can play a role in state revenues even as policymakers appreciate that excise taxes are not viable long-term revenue tools for general spending priorities.
4 min read
New Jersey Considers Bonds Paid for by Statewide Property Tax
As New Jersey lawmakers grapple with reduced revenues due to the coronavirus pandemic, they have turned to an unusual solution: the issuance of bonds that would be repaid, if necessary, through temporarily higher sales and property taxes.
2 min read
Sports Betting Will Not Solve State Budget Crises
The pandemic has left states in dire straits financially and lawmakers are getting creative in their pursuit of new revenue sources. However, it’s unlikely that revenue from sports betting will have any meaningful impact on budget shortfalls
3 min read