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Corporate Income Tax Rates in Europe, 2020

The Weird Way Taxes Impact Behavior

Learn about how taxes can influence human behavior through the power of incentives. See how different tax policies have impacted everything around us, including the buildings we live in, the cars we drive, and even what we eat and wear. Gain a deeper appreciation for the importance of designing tax policies that encourage positive economic behaviors.

Taxes: The Price We Pay for Government

Have you ever wondered where the money comes from to build roads, maintain a national defense, or pay for programs like Social Security? Taxes.

The Three Basic Tax Types

Discover the three basic tax types—taxes on what you earn, taxes on what you buy, and taxes on what you own. Learn about 12 specific taxes, four within each main category. Develop a basic understanding of how these taxes fit together, how they impact government revenues and the economy, and where you may encounter them in your daily life.

Not All Taxes Are Created Equal

Discover why there are better and worse ways for governments to raise a dollar of revenue. Compare the economic impact of the three basic tax types—taxes on what you earn, buy, and own—including three specific taxes within each category. Learn about the basics of “dynamic scoring,” one tool economists can use to compare the economic and revenue impact of different tax policies.

10 Common Tax Myths, Debunked

Identify some of the most common tax myths and tax policy misconceptions and learn how to separate fact from fiction. Discover why tax refunds shouldn’t be celebrated, why you should pay your income tax bill, and why certain deductions are wrongly labeled “loopholes,” among other useful facts. Improve your ability to counter misleading arguments about the tax code.

Can States Close Budget Deficits with Excise Tax Hikes?

We examine whether excise taxes are a solution to budget deficits, and while the short answer to that question is no, there are of course nuances. 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.

How Well-Funded Are Pension Plans in Your State?

The current crisis highlights the cost of underfunding pensions in years of economic growth. Twenty states have pension plans that were less than two-thirds funded, and five states had pension plans that were less than 50 percent funded.

A Review of Net Operating Loss Tax Provisions in the CARES Act and Next Steps for Phase 4 Relief

In addition to providing economic relief to individuals and loans to businesses struggling during the coronavirus crisis, the CARES Act changed several tax provisions to increase liquidity to ensure firms survive a large decline in cash flow.

New OECD Study: Consumption Tax Revenues during Economic Downturns

Compared to other tax revenue sources, consumption tax revenue as a share of GDP tends to be relatively stable over time, even during economic downturns.