The economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic poses a triple challenge for tax policy in the United States. Lawmakers are tasked with crafting a policy response that will accelerate the economic recovery, reduce the mounting deficit, and protect the most vulnerable.
To assist lawmakers in navigating the challenge, and to help the American public understand the tax changes being proposed, the Tax Foundation’s Center for Federal Tax Policy modeled how 70 potential changes to the tax code would affect the U.S. economy, distribution of the tax burden, and federal revenue.
In tax policy there is an ever-present trade-off among how much revenue a tax will raise, who bears the burden of a tax, and what impact a tax will have on economic growth. Armed with the information in our new book, Options for Reforming America’s Tax Code 2.0, policymakers can debate the relative merits and trade-offs of each option to improve the tax code in a post-pandemic world.
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Weighing the Value of Tax Credits During an Economic Crisis
One idea under consideration is adjusting existing tax credits, such as the Child Tax Credit (CTC) or Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), to provide financial relief during the crisis.
5 min read![Senator Wyden capital gains tax, unrealized capital gains tax, mark-to-market capital gains tax proposal](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/linkedin-In-Stream_Wide___money-300x158.jpg)
State Aid Provisions of the Federal Coronavirus Response Bill
To be eligible for federal funding, state expenditures must meet certain conditions. We break down the state aid coronavirus provisions in the latest federal bill.
5 min read![digital online computer work remote work from home, teleworking, telework double taxation](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/digital-online-remote-worker-computer-e1597242415271-300x113.jpeg)
Working from Home Brings Greater Exposure to State Tax Codes
During the present crisis, remote work has become a necessity for many people. The tax implications, however, are very real and potentially quite complex.
7 min read![excise tax definition suspending the gas tax proposal Kentucky's gas tax road funding, Kentucky gas tax bill](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/linkedin-In-Stream_Wide___gas-station-300x158.jpg)
What Happens with State Excise Tax Revenues During a Pandemic?
States will have to consider the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on their excise tax revenues, including from gas taxes, tobacco taxes, and alcohol taxes.
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Tracking Economic Relief Plans Around the World during the Coronavirus Outbreak
Countries around the world are implementing emergency tax measures to support their economies under the coronavirus (COVID-19) threat.
51 min read![Australia coronavirus relief package](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/australia-300x129.jpg)
Australia’s COVID-19 Support Focuses on Grants to Individuals and Small Businesses
In contrast to the sweeping economic relief plan being considered by the U.S. Congress, the approach taken by the Australian government is much more targeted to supporting individuals and small to medium-sized businesses.
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Norway Opens the Fiscal Toolbox
Norway passed a large coronavirus tax relief package to address layoffs and bankruptcies, which includes a reduced VAT rate, the introduction of a loss carryback provision, and targeted postponements for wealth tax payments, among other provisions.
5 min read![Tax on stock buybacks Wyden stock buybacks tax Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, House Ways and Means, temporary tax policy](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/flickr_-_uscapitol_-_east_fron-300x215.jpg)
Review and Analysis of House Democrats Coronavirus Response Bill
The proposed Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act can be contrasted with the Senate Republican CARES Act, although they share some similarities by providing individual taxpayers with a rebate and modifying business tax provisions to provide liquidity for struggling firms.
5 min read![SALT cap repeal, State and local tax deduction cap repeal (state and local tax cap). Repealing the cap on the State and Local Tax Deduction would be regressive and mainly benefit the wealthy SALT deduction cap, House Ways and Means Committee testimony, impact of limiting SALT deduction, SALT deduction cap, State and Local Tax Deduction cap](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/capitol-us-capitol-hearing-event-federal-e1561477935763-300x200.jpeg)
What Should Coronavirus Response Legislation Look Like?
As lawmakers debate how to respond to the coronavirus crisis, they should focus the legislative response to the emergency at hand, using principled policy solutions to provide relief to those affected. Attempts to use the crisis to make other, unrelated policy changes should be avoided.
3 min read![New York Tax, New York data tax, New York tax on data,](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/new-york-city-nyc-1-e1591113487843-300x200.jpg)