H.R. 25 would replace federal taxes with a 23 percent tax-inclusive (30
percent tax-exclusive) sales tax on private consumption, household
interest payments, and government spending, and give households payments to offset taxes on consumption up to the poverty line. This paper shows...
Few taxpayers still prepare their returns the old-fashioned way - with pencil and paper. The percentage of individual taxpayers who prepare their own returns without software dropped from 40 percent to 13 percent in the last decade, while paid preparer and software use increased. In tax year...
Perhaps the most significant and divisive tax debate of the past three decades has been over whether taxes on income ought to be replaced with taxes on consumption. Almost all of the large-scale reform efforts proposed during that period have sought that goal, even though the methods vary widely...
On January 1, 2001, Russia introduced what has frequently been called a "flat tax." In this report, we examine the limited research and information available on the effects of Russias personal income tax reform and reach five principal conclusions: The change in the personal income tax was not a...
In this commentary, Len Burman argues that if Congress can't reform the tax system, the next best thing would be to just leave it alone. Constant tinkering just adds to complexity.
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), administered through the federal income tax system, is the largest cash assistance program for low-income families. Data from the 2001 National Survey of America's Families (NSAF) show large disparities in who knows about the EITC amongst families with income...
Social Security's original mission was to protect society's most vulnerable from poverty. Figuring out who needs protection and how much, however, is not so simple. There are many sources of redistribution in Social Security, from rich to poor, from shorter lived to longer lived, and across...
As well-designed decentralized intergovernmental system is key to developing country's ability to achieve its 2015 Millennium Development Goals. And, whereas fiscal decentralization has many facets, there is a necessary condition that must be satisfied for its success: local governments...
Some have called for eliminating the itemized deduction for state and local income and property taxes as part of tax reform. This Tax Facts column looks at the states most affected by the current deduction and some aspects of repeal.
In the heady days after his re-election, President Bush promised to replace the current tax system with something better. Politicians often delude themselves that reform can be summoned by proclamation. But, a wholesale transformation of the income tax system isn't about to happen quickly or...
The National Retail Sales Tax: What Would the Rate Have To Be?
H.R. 25 would replace federal taxes with a 23 percent tax-inclusive (30
percent tax-exclusive) sales tax on private consumption, household
interest payments, and government spending, and give households payments to offset taxes on consumption up to the poverty line. This paper shows...
Changes in Tax Preparation Methods, 1993-2003
Few taxpayers still prepare their returns the old-fashioned way - with pencil and paper. The percentage of individual taxpayers who prepare their own returns without software dropped from 40 percent to 13 percent in the last decade, while paid preparer and software use increased. In tax year...
Taxing the Capital Income of Only The Poor and the Middle Class
Perhaps the most significant and divisive tax debate of the past three decades has been over whether taxes on income ought to be replaced with taxes on consumption. Almost all of the large-scale reform efforts proposed during that period have sought that goal, even though the methods vary widely...
Demythologizing the Russian Flat Tax
On January 1, 2001, Russia introduced what has frequently been called a "flat tax." In this report, we examine the limited research and information available on the effects of Russias personal income tax reform and reach five principal conclusions: The change in the personal income tax was not a...
Time for the IRS to Quit Tinkering with the Tax Forms
In this commentary, Len Burman argues that if Congress can't reform the tax system, the next best thing would be to just leave it alone. Constant tinkering just adds to complexity.
Disparities in Knowledge of the EITC
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), administered through the federal income tax system, is the largest cash assistance program for low-income families. Data from the 2001 National Survey of America's Families (NSAF) show large disparities in who knows about the EITC amongst families with income...
Whichever Way We Go, Some Get Left Behind
Social Security's original mission was to protect society's most vulnerable from poverty. Figuring out who needs protection and how much, however, is not so simple. There are many sources of redistribution in Social Security, from rich to poor, from shorter lived to longer lived, and across...
Subnational Tax Policy and Administration in Developing Economies
As well-designed decentralized intergovernmental system is key to developing country's ability to achieve its 2015 Millennium Development Goals. And, whereas fiscal decentralization has many facets, there is a necessary condition that must be satisfied for its success: local governments...
Deductibility of State and Local Taxes
Some have called for eliminating the itemized deduction for state and local income and property taxes as part of tax reform. This Tax Facts column looks at the states most affected by the current deduction and some aspects of repeal.
Sisyphus Had it Easy
In the heady days after his re-election, President Bush promised to replace the current tax system with something better. Politicians often delude themselves that reform can be summoned by proclamation. But, a wholesale transformation of the income tax system isn't about to happen quickly or...