Tax Policy Center

IRS

: TaxVox

Dividends, Bills, Assets and Software

Bank of America may have helped clients avoid taxes. Since at least 2011, it had been using its US unit’s funds to finance transactions by its European investment-banking arm. In doing so, it was able to help hedge funds avoid taxes on stock dividends. “BANA (Bank of America National Association)
February 12, 2015Renu Zaretsky
: TaxVox

Taxing the Rich: It’s a Plan Abroad, Too

The State of the Union: Tax reform depends on where you are sitting. In his State of the Union Address last night, President Obama called on Congress to address wealth inequality through the tax code, largely by increasing the capital gains tax and imposing a bank tax to fund tax relief for middle-
January 21, 2015Renu Zaretsky
Individual Taxes: TaxVox

The IRS Should Fix Its Letter Audit Program

The beleaguered IRS has two enormous challenges: It must rebuild its reputation to win congressional support for the funding it needs to do its job. And, because it will never get all the money it needs, it must spend the dollars it does have more wisely. It can start by improving the way it
January 20, 2015Howard Gleckman
: TaxVox

An Agency Wronged, A Minor Tax Maligned

The IRS is unable to do right by taxpayers, says the National Taxpayer Advocate. In its annual report to Congress , the in-house IRS watchdog finds that the agency’s budget cuts have eroded taxpayer service , especially for low-income taxpayers. At the same time the lack of effective administrative
January 15, 2015Renu Zaretsky
: TaxVox

New Congress, New Rules, Old Obstacles

The House orders dynamic scoring. On the first day of the new Congress, the House, by a largely party line vote, instructed the Joint Committee on Taxation and the Congressional Budget Office to include macroeconomic effects when it calculates the revenue effects of major tax bills. The rule comes
January 7, 2015Renu Zaretsky
: TaxVox

No Congressional Approval of a Spending Deal Yet, But Plenty of Commotion

In the spending bill, inversion curbs could be curbed. The bill to fund the government through September 2015, scheduled for a House vote today and a Senate vote after that, waters down Democratic-supported curbs on corporate inversions. The Ds would have barred companies that move their tax
December 11, 2014Renu Zaretsky
Federal Budget and Economy: TaxVox

The Day After the 2014 Election: Six Things To Watch In the New GOP Congress

Republicans had a very good day yesterday. But can they translate their ballot-box success into a positive legislative agenda? It won’t be easy but here are six clues: Mitch McConnell : He is a brilliant legislative tactician. We know he’ll use those skills to try to outmaneuver Democratic Leader
November 5, 2014Howard Gleckman
: Daily Deduction

Taxes Take Center Stage This Week—At Least on the House Floor

Shutting down talk of a shutdown… The House is expected to vote on a continuing resolution to fund the government—including the IRS—through December 11. The resolution would include an extension of the Internet Tax Freedom Act, which bars states from taxing Internet access. Unless Congress acts,
September 15, 2014Renu Zaretsky
: TaxVox

Business Tax Reform: Will Patience Be a Vice?

Treasury speaks on business tax reform at TPC. Tune in this morning. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew will address business tax reform and will be followed by a panel discussion on corporate inversions, a US tax avoidance strategy. The panel includes Sally Katzen of the NYU School of Law, TPC’s Steven
September 8, 2014Renu Zaretsky
: TaxVox

Online Taxes: Searches, Storage, and Sales

Congress is in recess. The Daily Deduction will return to its regular schedule on Monday, September 8. Until then: We’ll see you every Monday morning. Abroad and online: One country brings a knife to a gunfight. Spain has passed a new law : Websites that link to Spanish newspaper association
August 4, 2014Renu Zaretsky