Who Benefits from Itemized Deductions?
While some tax preferences like the earned income tax credit (EITC) and child tax credit benefit lower- and middle-income households, others, like itemized deductions, benefit high-income households.
4 min read
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The Top 1 Percent’s Tax Rates Over Time
In the 1950s, when the top marginal income tax rate reached 92 percent, the top 1 percent of taxpayers paid an effective rate of only 16.9 percent. As top marginal rates have fallen, the tax burden on the rich has risen.
5 min read
The Composition of Federal Revenue Has Changed Over Time
The federal income tax and federal payroll tax make up a growing share of federal revenue. Individual income taxes have become a central pillar of the federal revenue system, now comprising nearly half of all revenue.
2 min read
Income Taxes on the Top 0.1 Percent Weren’t Much Higher in the 1950s
Recent plans to increase the tax burden on wealthy Americans, such as higher marginal income tax rates and wealth taxes, are flawed in several ways, including in their lack of understanding of tax history.
4 min read
America Already Has a Progressive Tax System
Recent interest in raising the tax burden on high-income individuals glosses over the fact that the U.S. federal tax code is already progressive.
3 min read
Corporate Tax Rates Around the World, 2018
Since 1980, the worldwide average statutory corporate tax rate has consistently decreased as countries have realized the negative impact that corporate taxes have on business investment decisions.
11 min read
2018 International Tax Competitiveness Index
The structure of a country’s tax code is an important determinant of its economic performance. Our 2018 international tax rankings provide a road map for each of the 35 OECD countries to improve the structure of their tax codes and achieve a more neutral, more competitive tax system.
11 min read
A Comparison of the Tax Burden on Labor in the OECD, 2018
Before accounting for state and local sales taxes, the tax burden that a single average wage earner faces in the U.S. is 31.7 percent of pretax earnings, amounting to $18,198 in taxes in 2017.
18 min read
Capital Cost Recovery across the OECD, 2018
One hundred percent expensing for short-life business investments was a great start but needs to be enacted on a permanent basis for it to have an impact on long-term decision-making.
15 min read
The U.S.’s New Ranking on the International Tax Competitiveness Index
The TCJA is projected to improve the United States’ current ranking from 30th among the 35 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries to 25th, an improvement of five places.
4 min read
House Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Would Substantially Improve the U.S.’s International Tax Competitiveness
Considered as a whole, this plan would make the U.S. substantially more competitive, not only due to lower rates but also due to a better tax structure.
2 min read
2017 International Tax Competitiveness Index
Hampered by high marginal tax rates and complex business tax rules, the United States again ranks towards the bottom of the pack on our 2017 International Tax Competitiveness Index, placing 30 out of 35 OECD countries.
11 min read
Corporate Income Tax Rates around the World, 2017
The last time the U.S. reduced its federal corporate income tax rate was in 1986. Since then, countries throughout the world have significantly reduced their rates, leaving the U.S. with the fourth highest statutory corporate tax rate in the world and an overall uncompetitive tax system.
11 min read