individual taxes

The TaxVox Lump of Coal Awards for the Ten Worst Tax Ideas of 2015

It is time for TaxVox’ s annual Lump of Coal awards for the worst tax ideas (or most depressing tax stories) of 2015. As always, choosing the Top 10 was not easy, but here they are: 10. The Michigan House . Lawmakers tried to pay for new transportation projects by eliminating the state’s earned

December 21, 2015Howard Gleckman

Federal Budget and Economy: TaxVox

Jeb Bush’s Tax Plan: High Marks for Transparency But Key Questions Remain

At first glance, GOP presidential hopeful Jeb Bush’s tax reform plan is a standard lower-the-rates, broaden-the-base overhaul of the revenue code. But a closer look shows a something-for-everyone stew filled with interesting ingredients—most basic GOP fare but seasoned with a few surprising ideas.

September 9, 2015Howard Gleckman

Federal Budget and Economy: TaxVox

Five Tax Stories To Watch in What Will Be a Wild Fall in Congress and on the Campaign Trail

Congress is back. Fiscal deadlines loom. Presidential candidates have tax plans to propose. It isn’t clear how much lawmakers will accomplish in the next four months, but it will be a busy and interesting fall. Here are five stories to watch: International Tax Reform : House Republicans insist they

September 8, 2015Howard Gleckman

Individual Taxes: TaxVox

Why Individual Tax Revenues Will Grow Even If Congress Doesn’t Raise Taxes

The other day, I wrote about new Congressional Budget Office estimates that individual income tax revenues are likely to grow significantly over the next decade. A new paper by my Tax Policy Center colleagues Jim Nunns and Jeff Rohaly shows the importance of this trend through the rest of the

September 3, 2015Howard Gleckman

Federal Budget and Economy: TaxVox

Who Benefits Most From Repealing the ACA Cadillac Tax?

Republicans and some Democrats in Congress are pressing to repeal the Affordable Care Act’s Cadillac tax—a 40 percent excise tax on high-cost employer-sponsored health insurance plans. Backers of repeal argue that curbs on these generous plans would disproportionately hurt low- and middle-income

July 23, 2015Howard Gleckman

Federal Budget and Economy: TaxVox

Hillary Clinton Outlines Her Play-It-Safe Tax Agenda

In what her campaign billed as a major economic policy speech today in New York, Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton outlined her agenda for what she described as a Growth and Fairness Economy. And while she included a number of tax proposals, few were new. Indeed, the speech was

July 13, 2015Howard Gleckman

Individual Taxes: TaxVox

Who Benefits the Most from an Across-the-Board Cut in Individual Tax Rates?

Just about every tax reform plan calls for cutting individual tax rates. But it turns out that a one percentage point across-the-board rate cut would benefit only about six out of 10 households. The biggest beneficiaries: those with the highest incomes. According to a new Tax Policy Center analysis

July 2, 2015Howard Gleckman

Individual Taxes: TaxVox

Combined Tax Rates and Creating a 21st Century Social Welfare Budget

In testimony yesterday before a joint hearing of two House subcommittees, I urged Congress to modernize the nation’s social welfare programs to focus on early childhood, quality teachers, more effective work subsidies, and improved neighborhoods. One way lawmakers can shift their gaze is by

June 26, 2015C. Eugene Steuerle

Individual Taxes: TaxVox

How to Pay Zero Taxes on Income of Millions of Dollars

Remember when people complained that hedge fund managers and private equity firm owners paid a lower tax rate than many workers? Or when Warren Buffett said he shouldn’t pay a lower rate than his secretary? In those cases, investors were benefiting from low capital gains rates, but at least they

June 24, 2015C. Eugene Steuerle

Individual Taxes: TaxVox

Marco Rubio Wasn't the Only One Who Cashed Out an IRA Last Year

It is easy to mock Senator Marco Rubio, who cashed out $68,241 in IRA retirement funds last September. The GOP presidential hopeful, who made about $230,000 last year, told Fox News he needed the dough to prepare for his campaign, buy a new $3,000 refrigerator, and fix his busted a/c. As it happens

May 26, 2015Howard Gleckman