![2021 filing season coronavirus relief legislation Earned Income Tax Credit reforms, EITC reforms, EITC reform, Earned Income Tax Credit Reform, improper payments, improper payments, taxpayer advocate](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/tax-filing-individual-income-300x200.jpeg)
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![2021 filing season coronavirus relief legislation Earned Income Tax Credit reforms, EITC reforms, EITC reform, Earned Income Tax Credit Reform, improper payments, improper payments, taxpayer advocate](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/tax-filing-individual-income-300x200.jpeg)
![Debt Limit Deadline and Growing National Debt Demand Action CBO long-term budget forecast federal spending national debt and deficit CHIPS and Science Act Biden estate tax unrealized capital gains at death Federal capital gains tax collections historical data CBO releases new long-term budget outlook, The national debt is now projected to nearly double by 2050](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/capitol_hill_dc_black_and_white_adobe_50-small-e1600805966370-300x199.jpeg)
History of Attempted Changes to Step-Up in Basis Shows Perilous Road Ahead
As Congress considers President Biden’s proposal to tax unrealized capital gains at death, the history of previous efforts suggests it faces a perilous road ahead. Lawmakers must resolve tricky design and implementation details that derailed past attempts to change how capital gains are treated when assets are passed from one generation to the next.
4 min read![U.S. Corporate Income Faces Third-Highest Integrated Tax Rate in OECD Under Ways and Means Plan. House Democrats tax on corporate income rankings](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/U.S.-Corporate-Income-Faces-Third-Highest-Integrated-Tax-Rate-in-OECD-Under-Ways-and-Means-Plan.-House-Democrats-tax-on-corporate-income-rankings-281x300.png)
U.S. Corporate Income Faces Third-Highest Integrated Tax Rate in OECD Under Ways and Means Plan
Under the House Ways and Means tax plan, the United States would tax corporate income at the third-highest integrated tax rate among rich nations, averaging 56.6 percent.
3 min read![American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Covid relief federal economic relief package, Biden stimulus $1,400 payments or stimulus checks COVID-19 tax resource center. coronavirus tax policy and the coronavirus (covid-19)](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/linkedin-In-Stream_Wide___money-mask-covid-19-e1601647299382-300x158.jpg)
Federal Judge Rules Against ARPA’s Tax Mandate
Kentucky and Tennessee won an important legal victory Friday when a federal court ruled that the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)’s restrictions on state fiscal autonomy were unconstitutional and enjoined (blocked) the enforcement of those provisions against both states.
7 min read![Tracking the 2021 Biden Tax Plan](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Biden-tax-plan-Biden-2021-tax-plan-tracker-e1623848792294-300x200.jpeg)
Latest White House Report Tells Incomplete Story on Average Tax Rates for Wealthy
The White House Council of Economic Advisors (CEA)’s recent report estimates the average federal individual income tax rate for the top 400 wealthiest households in the U.S to be 8.2 percent, lower than typically estimated for top earners.
4 min read![2022 Spanish Regional Tax Competitiveness Index](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/2021-Spanish-Regional-Tax-Competitiveness-Index-2021-Spain-tax-rates-300x89.png)
2021 Spanish Regional Tax Competitiveness Index
The Spanish Regional Tax Competitiveness Index allows policymakers, businesses, and taxpayers to evaluate and measure how their regions’ tax systems compare and serves as a road map for policymakers to reform their tax systems and make their regions more competitive and attractive for entrepreneurs and residents.
7 min read![Federal tobacco tax proposal state taxes Build Back Better Act Biden American Families Plan proposal to tax unrealized capital gains at death, taxing unrealized gains death proposal, capital gains at death policies tax refund tax refunds tax cut 2018 tax season tax filing](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/money-budget-tax-300x169.jpg)
Federal Tobacco Tax Proposal Could Result in 50% Increase in State Taxes
The potential federal tax increase of over 1,600 percent on dipping tobacco as a result of the House Democrats’ proposal could result in state taxes and retail prices increasing by more than 50 percent in certain states.
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Yes, the U.S. Tax Code Is Progressive
As Congress considers several tax proposals designed to raise taxes on high-income earners, it’s worth considering the distribution of the existing tax code.
2 min read![House Democrats pass-through business tax. See top tax rate on pass-through business income under House Ways and Means tax plan, reconciliation and Biden Build Back Better Act](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/House-Democrats-pass-through-business-tax.-See-top-tax-rate-on-pass-through-business-income-under-House-Ways-and-Means-tax-plan-reconciliation-and-Biden-Build-Back-Better-Act-300x258.png)
Top Tax Rate on Pass-through Business Income Would Exceed 50 Percent in Most States Under House Dems’ Plan
Under the House Democrats’ reconciliation plan, the top tax rate on pass-through business income would exceed 50 percent in most states. Pass-through businesses, such as sole proprietorships, S corporations, and partnerships, make up a majority of businesses and majority of private sector employment in the United States.
3 min read![Reducing the tax gap Most of the US tax gap comes from the individual income tax. Tax gap, tax enforcement, and tax compliance costs](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Most-the-US-tax-gap-comes-from-the-individual-income-tax.-Tax-gap-tax-enforcement-tax-compliance-300x212.png)
![House tobacco proposal Bidens tax pledge House Democrats' tobacco tax increased taxes on vaping, increased taxes on smoking, tax on vaping, tax on smoking, merkley, romney, e-cigarette taxes](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/linkedin-In-Stream_Wide___capitol-us-capitol-hearing-event-federal-e1571258626690-300x158.jpeg)
House Tobacco Proposals Defy Biden’s Tax Pledge and Undermine Harm Reduction Efforts
House Democrats’ newly released $3.5 trillion tax legislation includes a tax increase on tobacco, nicotine, and vapor products levied on tobacco manufacturers. But ultimately it would fall heavily on tobacco consumers—many of the group that earns less than $400,000 that President Biden pledged would not see a tax increase.
6 min read![Church taxes, tax churches, what if we taxed churches? #Taxthechurches, tax treatment of churches in the US. If taxes paid taxes, taxing churches](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Church-taxes-tax-churches-what-if-we-taxed-churches-Taxthechurches-tax-treatment-of-churches-in-the-US.-If-taxes-paid-taxes-300x200.jpg)
What If We Taxed Churches?
Whether spurred by a belief that government is improperly favoring religious institutions, an antipathy to wealthy celebrity pastors, or a hope that taxing houses of worship could bring down personal tax bills, the taxation of religious bodies is hotly debated online, but barely on the radar of actual elected officials. But is that true? How much, if any, tax revenue is forgone, and what do the policies look like?
7 min read![Infrastructure bill taxes inflation pressure on inflation returns to work incentives](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Infrastructure-bill-taxes-inflation-pressure-on-inflation-returns-to-work-incentives-e1631218170732-300x203.jpg)
Tax Reform and Infrastructure Investment: The Two Theories
The Biden administration does have a point about how some components of the infrastructure bill could put downward pressure on inflation in the long term. However, the taxes chosen to pay for those investments would counteract those effects, by reducing investment and productivity growth.
4 min read![Wyden tax proposals reconciliation Wyden tax reconciliation](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Wyden-tax-proposals-reconciliation-e1631047656981-300x237.jpg)
Reviewing Wyden’s Reconciliation Tax Policy Proposals
Congressional lawmakers are putting together a reconciliation bill to enact much of President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda. Many lawmakers including Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-OR), however, want to make their own mark on the legislation.
5 min read![Wyden mark-to-market tax proposal. Explore Wyden financial services tax proposals, including Wyden carried interest tax, Wyden derivatives tax, and Wyden hedge funds and private equity tax](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Capitol-CROP-e1631034712985-300x141.jpg)
Wyden’s Financial Services Tax Proposals Would Put “Mark-to-Market” to the Test
Mark-to-market is not simple to implement, as it involves new administrative and compliance challenges for taxpayers. Mark-to-market levies tax on phantom income, requiring some taxpayers to engage in some degree of liquidation, ultimately suppressing incentives to save and invest. The limited tax revenues that could result from these proposals are not worth the risk.
5 min read![2022 state tax changes effective January 1, 2022 child tax credit changes and child tax credit reform options 2021 state tax changes July 1 2021 US business tax collections remained close to historical norm in 2018. US business tax revenue and taxes paid by pass-through firms](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Money-calendar-time-calculator-economy-business-tax-filing-e1618504666865-300x200.jpeg)
Temporary Policies Complicate the Child Tax Credit’s Future
Over the next ten years, the structure of the Child Tax Credit (CTC) is scheduled to change, complicating efforts to extend enhanced CTC benefits or reform the CTC for the long-term. Rather than take an all-or-nothing approach or kick the can down the road by relying on temporary expansions, lawmakers could consider alternative options that better target low-income households, retain work incentives, reduce the impact on federal revenue, and provide taxpayers with a stable, consistent tax code.
8 min read![Joe Biden fossil fuel tax provisions, Biden budget fossil fuel subsidies for oil and gas companies climate change plan](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Joe-Biden-fossil-fuel-tax-provisions-Biden-budget-fossil-fuel-subsidies-for-oil-and-gas-companies-climate-change-plan--300x157.jpeg)
![Cigarette tax Europe, cigarette taxes in the EU, Cigarette taxes in Europe and Cigarette tax rates in Europe 2021, European cigarette taxes](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Cigarette-tax-Europe-cigarette-taxes-in-the-EU-Cigarette-taxes-in-Europe-and-Cigarette-tax-rates-in-Europe-2021-European-cigarette-taxes-300x286.png)
Cigarette Taxes in Europe
Ireland and France levy the highest excise duties on cigarettes in the EU, at €8.42 ($9.60) and €6.61 ($7.53) per 20-cigarette pack, respectively. This compares to an EU average of €3.34 ($3.80). Bulgaria (€1.81 or $2.06) and Poland (€2.08 or $2.37) levy the lowest excise duties.
2 min read![New York marijuana tax proposal by Governor Cuomo](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/marijuana-money-3-300x175.jpg)
Tax Foundation Comments to the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act
Taxes will play an important role in the success or failure of federal cannabis reform. Since the federal government is late to the party, it should proceed with caution when imposing new taxes.
24 min read![Property taxes by county. Explore 2021 county property tax paid map. Which county has the highest property tax rate? Are property taxes by city or county? Who pays the most property taxes in America?](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Property-taxes-by-county.-2021-county-property-tax-paid-map.-Which-county-has-the-highest-property-tax-rate-Are-property-taxes-by-city-or-county-Who-pays-the-most-property-taxes-in-America-01-01-300x257.jpg)
Property Taxes by County, 2021
The six counties with the highest median property tax payments all have bills exceeding $10,000—Bergen, Essex, and Union Counties in New Jersey, and Nassau, Rockland, and Westchester counties in New York. All six are near New York City, as is the next highest, Passaic County, New Jersey ($9,881).
3 min read