What’s Missing from the Tax Burden Debate

When we discuss taxA tax is a mandatory payment or charge collected by local, state, and national governments from individuals or businesses to cover the costs of general government services, goods, and activities. policy, the conversation inevitably turns to who pays, who should pay, and how much they should pay.

Unfortunately, the tax burdens debate is often missing a key point: how income transfer programs—like Social Security or Medicaid—affect households’ tax burdens.

When looking at the whole picture, just how progressive is our tax code? Timothy Vermeer, senior policy analyst, joins Jesse to take a closer look. They discuss what is missing from the progressivity debate, and what lawmakers at the state and federal level should keep in mind when they consider tax reforms and interstate competition.