The political debate over the payroll tax holiday has revolved around possible short-term growth effects, when in fact the bigger issue is a long-run growth slowdown. If lawmakers want to have the biggest impact on boosting long-term economic growth in the U.S., they should turn their attention to cutting tax rates on corporate and individual income.
February 9, 2012
Tax Policy Podcast: Dee Hodges of the Maryland Taxpayers Association
Maryland Taxpayers Association president Dee Hodges discusses the many tax increases Gov. Martin O'Malley has proposed in the Old Line State.
February 6, 2012
Video: How Much Do U.S. Corporations Really Pay in Taxes?
U.S. companies pay among the highest corporate tax rates in the world, even after accounting for all deductions and loopholes, according to a new video produced by the Tax Foundation. This explanation of “effective” tax rates for corporations, based on recent academic studies of tax systems around the globe, is the third in a 5-part series on corporate taxes.
February 3, 2012
Tax Policy Podcast: Mark Robyn on State Tax Climates
Tax Foundation economist Mark Robyn discusses his most recent report, the 8th edition of the State Business Tax Climate Index. The Index accounts for dozens of state tax provisions, creating a single easy-to-use score that measures each state against the tax climates of every other state.
February 1, 2012
Tangible Personal Property Tax Reform: Options to Foster Simplicity and Competitiveness in Florida’s Tax Code
Tax Foundation Economist Scott Drenkard submitted testimony today to the Florida legislature on a proposed constitutional amendment to eliminate the state's tangible personal property tax. His testimony explains the problems with this type of tax and the reasons the state might be better off without it.
January 30, 2012
Bush Tax Cuts Did Not Increase Income Inequality
Contrary to recent reports suggesting that Bush-era tax cuts have increased income inequality in the U.S., the gap between rich and poor in recent decades has been driven mostly by the business cycle, i.e. multi-year fluctuations in economic activity.
Read more.
Featured Publications
- Global Evidence on Taxes and Economic Growth: Payroll Taxes Have No Effect
- Tangible Personal Property Tax Reform: Options to Foster Simplicity and Competitiveness in Florida’s Tax Code
- Reversal of the Trend: Income Inequality Now Lower than It Was under Clinton
- 2012 State Business Tax Climate Index
- States Vary Widely in Number of Taxpayers Deducting State or Local Sales Taxes
- Taxpayers Who Pay a Cancelled Tax Should Get Refunds: Armour v. City of Indianapolis
- Presidential Candidate Tax Plan Report Card
- How to Judge a Tax Plan
Tax Data
- Map: State Business Tax Climate Index, 2012
- Major Components of the State Business Tax Climate Index, FY 2012
- State Business Tax Climate Index-- Unemployment Insurance Tax Index, 2011-2012
- State Business Tax Climate Index-- Corporate Tax Index, 2011-2012
- State Business Tax Climate Index-- Sales Tax Index, 2011-2012
- State Business Tax Climate Index--Individual Income Tax Index, 2011-2012
- State Business Tax Climate Index--Property Tax Index, 2011-2012
- State Business Tax Climate Index Rankings, 2011-2012
State Business Tax Climate Index, 2012 Edition
