Sales Taxes

Does Your State Have a Sales Tax Holiday?

However well-intended they may be, sales tax holidays remain the same as they always have been—ineffective and inefficient.

Blog

Short Form

July 21, 2023June 7, 2024

Let Mattel You about Barbie’s Taxes

In Greta Gerwig’s new Barbie movie, Barbie’s venture outside of Barbieland introduces her to new experiences. But what about Barbie and taxes?

State and Local Sales Tax Rates, Midyear 2023

Compare the latest 2023 sales tax rates as of July 1st. Sales tax rate differentials can induce consumers to shop across borders or buy products online.

State Tax Changes Taking Effect July 1, 2023

At least 32 notable tax policy changes recently took effect across 18 states, including alterations to income taxes, payroll taxes, sales and use taxes, property taxes, and excise taxes. See if your state tax code changed.

Beer Taxes by State, 2023

Taxes are the single most expensive ingredient in beer, costing more than the labor and raw materials combined.

The Wayfair Sales Tax Ruling, Five Years Later

It’s the 5th anniversary of the groundbreaking Wayfair Supreme Court decision–a ruling that marked a new era of sales tax collection and changed how we think about taxation in the digital age.

North Carolina’s Budget Should Prioritize Pro-Growth Structural Reforms

As fiscal year 2023 draws to a close, North Carolina’s House and Senate have each passed their own versions of the biennial budget for fiscal years 2024-25. While legislative leaders have generally agreed to overall spending levels, negotiations remain ongoing to resolve different approaches to tax policy.

State Tax Reform and Relief Trend Continues in 2023

Ranking Sales Taxes on the 2023 State Business Tax Climate Index

An ideal sales tax applies to a broad base of final consumer goods and services, with few exemptions, and is levied at a low rate.

The FairTax?

The FairTax, on paper, sounds simple. But when you pull back the curtains, this proposal leads to more questions than answers.

Do Consumption Taxes Do a Better Job of Taxing Criminals?

One of the arguments in favor of the FairTax is that it would do a better job of taxing the underground economy than the income tax it is intended to replace.

Insights into the Tax Systems of Scandinavian Countries

Scandinavian countries are well known for their broad social safety net and their public funding of services such as universal health care, higher education, parental leave, and child and elderly care. So how do Scandinavian countries raise their tax revenues?

America’s Progressive Tax and Transfer System: Federal, State, and Local Tax and Transfer Distributions

The overall U.S. tax and transfer system is overwhelmingly progressive, and understanding the extent—and source—of that progressivity is essential for lawmakers considering the trade-offs associated with each tax policy decision.

Facts & Figures 2023: 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.

New Mexico’s Omnibus Tax Bill

Adopting the sound tax reforms still pending in Santa Fe is an opportunity for New Mexico to keep up with the pack or risk falling further behind.

Kentucky Should Refrain from Expanding Its Taxation of Business Inputs

As final negotiations occur between the House and Senate, legislators should avoid adopting new policies that would jeopardize Kentucky’s business tax competitiveness.

Oklahoma Lawmakers’ Tax Reform Plan Would Put State in Top 10

The changes put forth in a new package of bills would represent significant pro-growth change for Oklahoma that would set the state up for success in an increasingly competitive tax landscape.

Analyzing the Kansas Senate’s Proposed Tax Changes

As Kansas legislators consider additional tax policy changes this legislative session, they should prioritize economic growth and a structurally sound tax code.

Sources of U.S. Tax Revenue by Tax Type, 2023 Update

Different taxes have different economic effects, so policymakers should always consider how tax revenue is raised and not just how much is raised.

Cities Want to Tax Streaming Video Services, but They’re Not Sure Why

A growing number of cities, in red states like Arkansas and Texas, blue states like California and New Jersey, and purple states like Georgia and Nevada, have pursued streaming taxes in recent years.