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Individual Income and Payroll Taxes

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Extending tax cuts budgetary impact 2017 tax law Tax Cuts and Jobs Act policy baseline vs law baseline

All About That Base(line)

If lawmakers are serious about pro-growth policies and fiscal responsibility, they will need to put policies forward that achieve those goals. Simply adjusting the baseline doesn’t reduce actual deficits in the coming years.

7 min read
Summary of the Latest Federal Income Tax Data, 2025 Update

Summary of the Latest Federal Income Tax Data, 2025 Update

New IRS data shows the US federal income tax system continues to be progressive as high-income taxpayers pay the highest average income tax rates. Average tax rates for all income groups remain lower after the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA).

6 min read
Social Security crisis insolvency

How the Payroll Tax Base Has Changed Over Time

The Social Security trust funds face looming insolvency if policymakers don’t reform the program. One issue that garners a lot of attention in the debate over solutions is the payroll tax cap.

3 min read
Trump Tax Cuts, Tariffs, and Reconciliation After the 2024 Election

Questions About Tax Cuts, Tariffs, and Reconciliation After the Election

Fiscal pressures are likely to weigh heavily on lawmakers as they craft a tax reform package. That increased pressure could result in well-designed tax reform that prioritizes economic growth, simplicity, and stability, or it could encourage budget gimmicks and economically harmful offsets. Lawmakers should avoid the latter.

8 min read
Details and Analysis of Repealing Head of Household Filing Status

Repealing Head of Household Filing Status: Details and Analysis

As lawmakers prepare for the debate over the expiration of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), they may face increasing pressure to offset the cost of lowering tax rates by changing other parts of the tax code. One potential option to raise additional revenue to cover the cost of the TCJA’s reforms—like lower rates, a larger standard deduction, and a larger child tax credit—would be to repeal the head of household filing status.

5 min read
2025 State Tax Competitiveness Index

2025 State Tax Competitiveness Index

The State Tax Competitiveness Index enables policymakers, taxpayers, and business leaders to gauge how their states’ tax systems compare. While there are many ways to show how much state governments collect in taxes, the Index evaluates how well states structure their tax systems and provides a road map for improvement.

115 min read
Trump tax plan economic impact

2024 Election Insights | Can Trump’s Tariff Plan Really Replace the Income Tax?

Can tariffs truly replace income taxes in today’s economy? In this episode, we examine the bold and controversial proposal from former President Trump to replace income taxes with tariffs. What would this dramatic shift mean for everyday Americans, particularly those with lower incomes? And would it actually work?

What Sets the US and China Apart on Tax?

Broad, pro-investment tax policy matters for growth, and the US has plenty of opportunities to make improvements, particularly given the advantages our cross-Pacific rival confers on its firms.

5 min read
Trump tariffs largest tax increase Harris tax plan largest tax increase tax cuts and tax hikes historically

Placing Harris and Trump Tax Plans in Historical Context

Trump’s tariff hikes would rank as the the largest tax increase outside of wartime since 1940. Meanwhile, Harris’s tax plan would rank as the 6th largest tax increase outside of wartime since 1940.

5 min read
2026 Tax Brackets Tax Filing Tax Season

How 2026 Tax Brackets Would Change if the TCJA Expires

If Congress allows the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) to expire as scheduled, most aspects of the individual income tax would undergo substantial changes, resulting in more than 62 percent of tax filers experiencing tax increases in 2026.

3 min read
2025 tax brackets IRS inflation adjustments for tax year 2025 in early 2026 tax filing season

2025 Tax Brackets

Explore the IRS inflation-adjusted 2025 tax brackets, for which taxpayers will file tax returns in early 2026.

4 min read
International Tax Competitiveness Index 2024 Global Tax Rankings by Country

International Tax Competitiveness Index 2024

While there are many factors that affect a country’s economic performance, taxes play an important role. A well-structured tax code is easy for taxpayers to comply with and can promote economic development while raising sufficient revenue for a government’s priorities.

92 min read

Can US Tax Reforms Keep Up with China?

How does tax policy shape a nation’s competitiveness? Today, we’re diving into the showdown between the US and China, exploring how China’s enticing tax incentives pose a formidable challenge to America’s economic supremacy.

Kamala Harris Tax Plan 2024 Details Analysis

Kamala Harris Tax Plan Ideas: Details and Analysis

On tax policy, Harris carries forward much of President Biden’s FY 2025 budget, including higher taxes aimed at businesses and high earners. She would also further expand the child tax credit (CTC) and various other tax credits and incentives while exempting tips from income tax.  

17 min read