Principles of Sound Tax Policy As a nonpartisan, educational organization, the Tax Foundation has earned a reputation for independence and credibility. All Tax Foundation research is guided by the principles of sound tax policy—simplicity, transparency, neutrality, and stability—which should serve as touchstones for policymakers and taxpayers everywhere. Below, we define our four principles and, for each, outline four real-world policies—two that embody our ideals and two that do not. These examples are illustrative and intended to make each concept more tangible. They only represent a small fraction of the tax policies we delve into every day. For more information about our principles and how they can be applied in practice, please contact us here. Simplicity Transparency Neutrality Stability Download Principles of Sound Tax Policy