US Has Most Progressive Tax System in OECD, New Index Shows
A study from the Fraser Institute finds the US tax code is highly progressive relative to other OECD countries.
7 min read
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Reform UK Proposal to Exempt Overtime from Income Tax Sounds Appealing but Is Highly Flawed
The Reform UK proposal to exempt overtime pay from income tax—framed as a “hard work bonus”—may be politically appealing, but it’s a flawed idea that undermines economic fairness, distorts labor markets, and jeopardizes tax revenues.
4 min read
State and Local Tax Collections Per Capita by State, 2026
Tax collections vary widely by state, making per capita collections figures—a measure of collections per person—especially useful, as they allow comparisons across differences in tax rates and bases, economic capacities, and policy decisions that impact the size and scope of government.
5 min read
Minnesota Should Not Pay for Bad Tax Policy with More Bad Tax Policy
A pair of bills introduced in the Minnesota House—HF 3954 (overtime) and HF 3955 (tips)—would further erode the state’s tax climate by exempting certain overtime pay and tip income from Minnesota’s income tax.
5 min read
Tracking Three IRS Datapoints to Watch During the 2026 Tax Filing Season
The total amount refunded as of the sixth week of reporting is running ahead of the past filing season by nearly $23 billion at $202.6 billion compared to $179.5 billion, while the average refund is up 10.9 percent at $3,571.
3 min read
Summary of the Latest Federal Income Tax Data, Tax Year 2023
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
Ideas, Not Mandates: Lessons Learned from a Decade of International Tax Reform
The past decade’s record suggests that countries have reliable legislative methods to improve their tax systems through ordinary tax reforms.
22 min read
Remote Work and State Taxes: What You Need to Know
Should you have to file a tax return in a state where you babysat for one hour? In 22 states, the answer is technically yes.
Rethinking Your Tax Refund
While it may feel good to receive a tax refund, it does not represent your tax burden—the tax liability you actually owe to the government.
We Tracked Every Trump Tariff Change for a Year. Here’s What We Found.
One year later, the evidence shows the tariffs were not reciprocal, did not generate the promised investment boom, raised less revenue than projected, and contributed to higher prices.
Facts & Figures 2026: How Does Your State Compare?
Facts & Figures serves as a one-stop state tax data resource that compares all 50 states on over 40 measures of tax rates, collections, burdens, and more.
2 min read
In 2026, Both Parties Are Dodging the Truth on Taxes
As the policy debate for the next presidential election begins to take shape, both sides need to be honest about their plans for addressing the actual challenges our country faces.
Details and Analysis of the Van Hollen and Booker Tax Cut Plans
Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) have each introduced proposals aimed at cutting taxes for lower- and middle-income taxpayers and raising them on high-income taxpayers.
9 min read
Colorado Considers Legislation to Tax Phantom Income
Under HB26-1221, Colorado would make two changes that raise additional revenue by taxing income that doesn’t actually exist. The proposed changes to the state’s alternative minimum tax and net operating loss provisions are designed to overstate income, leading to double taxation and distorting taxpayer behavior.
5 min read
Trump Tariffs Threaten to Offset Much of the “Big Beautiful Bill” Tax Cuts
The tariffs now in effect threaten to offset much of the GDP growth from the tax cuts, while falling short of paying for them.
3 min read
2025 European Tax Policy Scorecard
The variety of approaches to taxation among European countries creates a need to evaluate these systems relative to each other. For that purpose, we have developed the European Tax Policy Scorecard—a relative comparison of European countries’ tax systems.
55 min read
Trump Tariffs Blocked by the Supreme Court (What’s Next?)
Last Friday, the Supreme Court struck down President Trump’s IEEPA tariffs in a landmark 6-3 decision.
US Taxpayers to See a Nearly $2,300 Average Tax Cut in 2026 Under the Big Beautiful Bill
Notably, the OBBBA makes permanent the individual tax changes first put in place by the TCJA, which avoids a tax hike on an estimated 62 percent of tax filers in 2026.
4 min read
Tax Treatment of the Pass-Through Business Sector: A Primer
The pass-through business sector—including partnerships, S corporations, and sole proprietorships—employs most of the private-sector workforce in the US and accounts for about half of US business income.
34 min read
How Does the Additional Senior Deduction Compare to No Tax on Social Security?
The increased senior deduction with the phaseout would deliver a larger tax cut to lower-middle- and middle-income taxpayers compared to exempting all Social Security benefits from income taxation and would not weaken the trust funds as much. But given the temporary nature of the policy, it would increase the deficit-impact of the reconciliation bills without boosting long-run economic growth.
3 min read