As tax bills go through Congress, Senior Fellow Eugene Steuerle describes how tax provisions can be targeted effectively and how legitimate tax policy principles be maintained, in spite of wide disagreement over the exact shape of an ideal tax system.
Each year, millions of American taxpayers claim tax deductions for contributions to their favorite charities. The charitable tax deduction subsidizes private giving by reducing the out-of-pocket cost of making contributions. In April 1999, the Urban Institutes Center on Nonprofits and...
Nonprofit organizations engage in a range of income-producing activities: Universities charge tuition, hospitals collect fees, and social-service organizations enter into government contracts. To the extent that an activity is "substantially related" to the organization's tax-exempt purpose, the...
Senior Fellow Eugene Steuerle explains why it makes sense to extend the charitable deduction to the time of filing a tax return, in much the same way as applies to deposits to individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and to certain pensions of self-employed persons (Keogh plans).
Recent large federal budget surpluses have spurred debate on how best to use the money. Some see surpluses as an opportunity to pay down the federal debt, to expand programs to meet such social needs as health care and education, or to secure the future of Social Security. Others propose...
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is the largest cash transfer program for low-income parents in the United States. The refundable tax credit supplements wages and offsets taxes paid by low-income workers. Research suggests that the EITC has not only been effective in moving families over the...
Amending a Chairman's Mark While Recognizing Tax Policy Principles
As tax bills go through Congress, Senior Fellow Eugene Steuerle describes how tax provisions can be targeted effectively and how legitimate tax policy principles be maintained, in spite of wide disagreement over the exact shape of an ideal tax system.
The Cost of Giving: How Do Changes in Tax Deductions Affect Charitable Contributions?
Each year, millions of American taxpayers claim tax deductions for contributions to their favorite charities. The charitable tax deduction subsidizes private giving by reducing the out-of-pocket cost of making contributions. In April 1999, the Urban Institutes Center on Nonprofits and...
The Unrelated Business Income Tax: All Bark and No Bite?
Nonprofit organizations engage in a range of income-producing activities: Universities charge tuition, hospitals collect fees, and social-service organizations enter into government contracts. To the extent that an activity is "substantially related" to the organization's tax-exempt purpose, the...
Strong Treasury Team Goes to Bat With One Strike Already Called
Senior Fellow Eugene Steuerle advocates for a stronger Treasury role as the new team takes on the departments mission.
An Option to Increase Charitable Giving and Reduce Current Taxes
Senior Fellow Eugene Steuerle explains why it makes sense to extend the charitable deduction to the time of filing a tax return, in much the same way as applies to deposits to individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and to certain pensions of self-employed persons (Keogh plans).
"Greenspanspeak" on Taxes
Senior Fellow Eugene Steuerle offers his interpretation of Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspans comments supporting a tax cut.
Steps Toward a Successful Presidency
Senior Fellow Eugene Steuerle offers a new president advice on governing.
Federal Income Tax Cuts and Low-Income Families
Recent large federal budget surpluses have spurred debate on how best to use the money. Some see surpluses as an opportunity to pay down the federal debt, to expand programs to meet such social needs as health care and education, or to secure the future of Social Security. Others propose...
Who Knows about the Earned Income Tax Credit?
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is the largest cash transfer program for low-income parents in the United States. The refundable tax credit supplements wages and offsets taxes paid by low-income workers. Research suggests that the EITC has not only been effective in moving families over the...
Social Security and the Poor
This article offers an assessment of how well Social Security takes care of the poor.