Why is the tax code such a mess, and what can be done to fix it? Can the income tax be saved, or should it be scrapped in favor of a tax on consumption? Can the income tax be redesigned so that most taxpayers do not have to file tax returns? What are the implications for tax reform of the proliferation of social programs in the tax code? Is revenue-neutral tax reform politically feasible or desirable?

The President has called for tax reform to make the tax system simpler, fairer, and more conducive to economic growth, without increasing (or decreasing) the deficit. In the series of conferences detailed below, the Tax Policy Center will discuss the issues that the new tax reform commission will have to grapple with in setting forth proposals that could advance these objectives.

In addition to information about future TPC events, you'll find below transcripts from Events, testimony and presentations before the President's Tax Reform Panel, as well as a collection of papers, books and commentaries relevant to reforming the tax code.

We will continue to update this page regularly as merit dictates.

Events

Taxing Capital Income
September 23, 2005
Transcript Now Available

Tax Reform and the Environment
June 3, 2005

Federal Tax Reform and the States
May 18, 2005

Can Tax Time Be Less Burdensome? Annual TPC "Tax Day" Event
April 11, 2005
Transcript Now Available

Death by a Thousand Cuts: An Analysis of the Estate Tax's Demise
March 24, 2005
Transcript Now Available

Forum on Tax Shelters
February 11, 2005
Transcript Now Available

Setting the Stage for Tax Reform
January 18, 2005
Transcript Now Available

More Events

Testimony & Presentations

Extension of Saving and Investment Incentives, Testimony Submitted to the Senate Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight: Eric Toder
June 30, 2005

The Impact of Tax Reform on Low- and Middle-Income Households, Testimony Submitted to the House Committee on Ways and Means: Leonard E. Burman
June 8, 2005

The Expanding Reach of the Individual Alternative Minimum Tax, Testimony submitted to the United States Senate Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight of the Committee on Finance: Leonard E. Burman
May 23, 2005

Tax Reform Panel Presentation, Return-Free Tax Systems: Eric Toder
May 17, 2005

Tax Reform Panel Presentation, Tax Reform and Fairness for Families: Eugene Steuerle
March 23, 2005

Tax Reform Panel Presentation, The Individual Alternative Minimum Tax: Len Burman
March 3, 2005

Tax Reform Panel Presentation, A Comparison of Income and Consumption Taxes: William Gale
February 16, 2005

Tax Reform: Prospects and Possibilities, Statement before the Committee on the Budget United States House of Representatives: Eugene Steuerle
October 6, 2004

Federal Revenue Options, Statement before the Committee on the Budget United States House of Representatives: William Gale
October 6, 2004

More TPC testimony

Selected Tax Reform Publications

The National Retail Sales Tax: What Would the Rate Have To Be?: William Gale
May 16, 2005

Contemporary U.S. Tax Policy: Eugene Steuerle
May 2004

Flat Tax, from The Encyclopedia of Taxation and Tax Policy: William Gale
October 1, 1999

The Rocky Road to Tax Reform, in Setting National Priorities: The 2000 Election and Beyond: Henry J. Aaron, William Gale, and James Sly
1999

More tax reform publications

  Upcoming Events

  Events

  Testimony & Presentations

  Selected Tax Reform Publications