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International Tax Competitiveness Index 2020
Our International Index compares OECD countries on over 40 variables that measure how well each country’s tax system promotes sustainable economic growth and investment.
13 min read
Tax Modernization: A Key to Economic Recovery and Growth in Nebraska
A competitive tax code has never been more important, and these tax policy improvements can both strengthen the short-term economic recovery and promote long-term economic growth in Nebraska.
26 min read
Twelve Things to Know About the “Fair Tax for Illinois”
Heading into Election Day, the Illinois legislature and Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) are trying to convince voters to scrap a key constitutional feature of Illinois’ tax system: a provision in the state constitution that prohibits a graduated-rate income tax.
18 min read
A Carbon Tax to Make the TCJA’s Individual Provisions Permanent
Making the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act’s individual provisions permanent combined with a carbon tax can be a revenue-neutral trade and increase the long-run size of the economy by 1 percent, making it a sustainable pro-growth option.
23 min read
Split Roll Initiative in California Threatens Property Tax Limitations on Commercial Real Estate
On Election Day this year, California voters will vote on Proposition 15, a ballot measure that would create a “split roll” property tax system in the Golden State, increasing taxes on just commercial property by $8 billion to $12.5 billion.
15 min read
Looking Back on 30 Years of Carbon Taxes in Sweden
Implemented in 1991, Sweden’s carbon tax was one of the first in the world. Since then, Sweden’s carbon emissions have been declining, while there has been steady economic growth. Today, Sweden levies the highest carbon tax rate in the world and its carbon tax revenues have been decreasing slightly over the last decade.
21 min read
New Census Data Shows States Beat Revenue Expectations in FY 2020
State tax revenue collections were down 5.5 percent in FY 2020, driven by a dismal final quarter (April through June) as states began to feel the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. While these early losses are certainly not desirable, they are manageable and far better than many feared.
16 min read
Who Will Pay for the Roads?
The highway trust fund is on track to run out of money by 2021, states are struggling to cover their transportation spending, and increased fuel economy, plus inflation, is chipping away at gas tax revenue year. How can Congress and state governments ensure they have the revenue necessary to fund our highways? One solution is the vehicle miles traveled (VMT) tax.
35 min read
Teleworking Employees Face Double Taxation Due to Aggressive “Convenience Rule” Policies in Seven States
States can tax your income where you live and where you work—but a growing number of states may also seek to tax your income even if you neither live nor work there, an aggressive posture that becomes increasingly consequential as more Americans work remotely both during and potentially after the COVID-19 pandemic.
15 min read
Where Should the Money Come From?
The fiscal response to the COVID-19 pandemic will require policymakers to consider what revenue resources should be used to fill budget gaps. Tax policy experts have proposed wealth taxes, (global) corporate minimum taxes, excess profits taxes, and digital taxes as opportunities for governments to raise new revenues.
20 min read
An Overview of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC)
The LIHTC has subsidized over 3 million housing units since it was established in 1986, the largest source of affordable housing financing.
24 min read
1980s Tax Reform, Cost Recovery, and the Real Estate Industry: Lessons for Today
The Tax Reform Act of 1986 extended depreciation schedules for both commercial and noncommercial of real estate, reducing the attractiveness of those investments.
21 min read
Sales Tax Holidays: Politically Expedient but Poor Tax Policy, 2020
In the midst of the coronavirus crisis, some states are hoping that a sales tax holiday might help restart struggling industries by stimulating the economy. However, sales tax holidays can mislead consumers about savings and distract from genuine, permanent tax relief.
45 min read
State Forecasts Indicate $121 Billion 2-Year Tax Revenue Losses Compared to FY 2019
Revised state revenue forecasts show a significant decline in projected revenues for both the recently concluded FY 2020 and current FY 2021, though the picture they paint is considerably less dire than many feared a few months ago.
13 min read
What Can Connecticut Learn from its Neighbors About Property Tax Limitations?
Property tax burdens in Connecticut continue to increase even as property values decline, whereas other states—including neighboring Massachusetts and New York—have managed to keep the growth of property tax burdens in check.
42 min read
State Tax Changes Effective July 1, 2020
Nineteen states had notable tax changes take effect on July 1, 2020. Pandemic-shortened sessions contributed to less—and different—activity on the tax front than is seen in most years, and will likely yield an unusually active summer and autumn, with many legislatures considering new measures during special sessions.
12 min read
When Marriage Doesn’t Pay: Analysis and Options for Addressing Marriage and Second-Earner Penalties
In many cases, when two single workers combine their incomes and file jointly, the progressive tax system penalizes the secondary earner by subjecting their wages to a higher marginal tax rate.
25 min read
Challenges for Transfer Pricing in an Economic Downturn
Transfer pricing rules are under stress given the current economic crisis. The OECD should provide transfer pricing guidance during the coronavirus crisis.
13 min read
A Road Map to Recreational Marijuana Taxation
As more states consider legalization of recreational marijuana, lawmakers should take note of the experiences of the states already allowing legal sales and consumption.
66 min read