Individual Income and Payroll Taxes

Navigating the Complex Income Tax System in Italy

High marginal tax rates can act as barriers to upward mobility, discouraging people from advancing in their careers.

State Tax Reform and Relief Enacted in 2022

Among the 46 states that held legislative sessions this year, structural state tax reform and temporary tax relief measures were recurring themes.

Tax Reform Options to Improve Wisconsin’s Competitiveness

Given the state’s strong budget surplus and projected continued revenue growth, Wisconsin is in a prime position to enact pro-growth reforms to improve the state’s competitive standing for decades to come.

Marginal Tax Rates and Economic Opportunity

Research has shown that spikes in tax rates can act as barriers to upward mobility. High marginal tax rates might directly influence the decisions workers make about accepting a raise, working additional hours, or whether they might remain on government benefits.

Efforts to Improve Tax Treatment of Saving Gain Traction on Hill

The proposals share a common goal of improving incentives for households to save during a time when inflation is impacting their finances.

Tax Burden on Labor in Europe, 2022

To make the taxation of labor more efficient, policymakers should understand the inputs into the tax wedge, and taxpayers should understand how their tax burden funds government services.

The U.S. Tax Burden on Labor, 2022

Although the U.S. has a progressive tax system and a relatively low tax burden compared to the OECD average, average-wage workers still pay nearly 30 percent of their wages in taxes.

The Impact of Individual Income Tax Changes on Economic Growth

Research almost invariably shows a negative relationship between income tax rates and gross domestic product (GDP). Cuts to marginal tax rates are highly correlated with decreases in the unemployment rate.

Pro-Growth Tax Reforms Throughout the Republican Study Committee’s FY 2023 Budget

The United States needs to grow its way out of inflation and set the economy up for continued growth—the tax code provides tools for policymakers to do just that.

Biden’s FY 2023 Budget Would Result in $4 Trillion of Gross Revenue Increases

President Biden’s budget proposes several new tax increases on high-income individuals and businesses, which combined with the Build Back Better plan would give the U.S. the highest top tax rates on individual and corporate income in the developed world.

3 Takeaways from the New Congressional Budget Office Outlook

The CBO projections show policymakers’ top priority over the next five years will need to be cleaning up our country’s fiscal situation while maintaining a pro-growth and competitive tax code.

Two Dozen States Show Why the Kansas Critique of Income Tax Cuts Is Mistaken

The Kansas experience is so infamous that “what about Kansas?” is almost guaranteed to be a question—sometimes as a retort, but often a genuine expression of concern—any time any state explores tax relief. But what about the other two dozen states that have cut their income taxes since then?

Oklahoma Should Prioritize Pro-Growth Relief, Not Gimmicky Rebate Checks

If Sooner State policymakers want to use a portion of their higher revenues to make the economy work better for all Oklahomans, they should consider repealing the franchise tax, trimming the income tax, or both—paired, if desired, with targeted aid to those in the greatest need—not writing a single round of gimmicky checks.

Graduated Rate Income Tax

Flat Tax

The Aftermath of Arizona’s Proposition 208 and the Potential for a Flat Tax

Arizona now joins a growing cohort of states that are moving toward a flat income tax. Pending revenue triggers, the income tax rate will be reduced to 2.5 percent giving Arizona one of the lowest individual income tax rates in the country.

States’ Taxes Go Flat

In more than 100 years of state income taxes, only four states have ever moved from a graduated-rate income tax to a flat tax. Another four may adopt flat tax legislation just this year. We discuss what flat taxes are, what they mean for taxpayers, and why so many states are making a push for them this year.

Tax Filing Season: Options for Improvement

Efforts to improve the taxpayer experience should focus on the IRS’s operations and include structural improvements to the tax code.

The Three Basic Tax Types

The better you understand taxes, the better equipped you are to make decisions about them. All taxes can be divided into three basic types: taxes on what you buy, taxes on what you earn, and taxes on what you own.

Missouri Tax Reform Could Give State Competitive Edge

Tax reform has become a major focus for state legislatures this session, and Missouri lawmakers are tuned in to the action: after adjusting individual income tax triggers in 2021, the legislature is exploring further tax reform options.