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Tax Policy Center

Research & Commentary

Research report
Federal Budget and Economy

A Methodology for Integrated Distributional Analysis of Taxes and Transfers

Distributional analyses play a prominent role in policy discussions. Both tax and transfer policy have important distributional consequences, but traditionally they have been examined separately. This report describes a new methodology for integrated distributional analysis that imports results...

September 29, 2017
Gordon B. MerminFrank SammartinoMatthew BuettgensMelissa M. FavreaultElaine Maag
Journal Article
State and Local Issues

Effects of a Federal Value-Added Tax on State and Local Government Budgets

A longstanding concern of state and local governments is that a federal value-added tax (VAT) could severely limit their reliance on sales taxes as a major source of revenue. This concern is too narrowly focused; a federal VAT could affect revenues from other sources and spending more than sales...

September 8, 2017
James R. NunnsEric Toder
Research report
Individual Taxes

A Federal Consumption Tax as Replacement for the Employer Payroll Tax

Introducing a federal consumption tax as a replacement for the employer payroll tax would achieve the intended policy goals of prior consumption tax proposals while overcoming their policy shortcomings. The base and design of the consumption and employer payroll taxes are closely related,...

July 6, 2016
James R. NunnsJoseph Rosenberg
Research report
Individual Taxes

Effects of a Federal Value-Added Tax on State and Local Budgets

A longstanding concern of state and local governments is that a federal value-added tax (VAT) could shrink sales tax bases. But a federal VAT could have even bigger effects on other revenues and spending through changes in incomes, relative prices, and asset values. To illustrate the range of...

April 21, 2016
James R. NunnsEric Toder
Research report
Individual Taxes

Should We Tax Unhealthy Foods and Drinks?

What we eat and drink can cause obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and other conditions. In response, many governments have enacted or are considering taxes on unhealthy food and drinks. This report evaluates the rationale behind such taxes; reviews evidence on their effects; analyzes different...

December 14, 2015
Donald MarronMaeve E. GearingJohn Iselin
Working paper
Individual Taxes

Should We Tax Internalities Like Externalities?

Does the traditional rationale for taxing externalities also apply to internalities? Yes, if the goal is maximizing efficiency. Efficient taxes reflect any harms consumers overlook, whether to others or themselves. Yes with caution, if the goal also includes equity. Internality taxes fall most...

November 10, 2015
Donald Marron
Research report
Federal Budget and Economy

Tax Subsidies for Health and Housing Top $600 Billion

Tax expenditures will cost more than $1.4 trillion in fiscal year 2014. Those that support health and housing policies account for more than 40 percent of this number, or about $640 billion. These figures and their accompanying table are calculations derived from the tax expenditure estimates in...

May 1, 2014
Georgia IvsinDonald Marron
Testimony
Individual Taxes

Policies to Support the Middle Class

In this testimony before the Senate Finance Committee, Len Burman outlines some of the challenges facing the middle class in 2014 and explores policy options that might help better equip them to meet those challenges, including improving access to higher education and job training and...

March 13, 2014
Leonard E. Burman
Brief
Individual Taxes

Taxing Private Equity Funds and Their Partners: A Debate on Current Law

The following is the text of a debate that occurred between Rosenthal and Needham at the May meeting of the American Bar Association Section of Taxation in Washington regarding the proper tax treatment of private equity funds and their partners under current law. The introduction should be...

June 25, 2013
Steven M. Rosenthal
Brief
Federal Budget and Economy

Let's freeze more than chump change

President Obama has proposed to freeze most domestic discretionary spending -- a step in the right direction, but not enough. The $250 billion in expected savings over the next decade is chump change compared with deficits that could top $10 trillion if policy doesn't change.

February 2, 2010
Leonard E. Burman
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