Tax Policy Center

sin tax

Individual Taxes: TaxVox

Naughty Or Nice: What If Santa Claus Had To Levy Sin Taxes?

Unlike Santa, governments want at least some residents to be a little “naughty” and continue do things it considers harmful so it can collect “sin taxes” on their behavior.
December 4, 2019Renu Zaretsky
Individual Taxes: TaxVox

What Should We Do with the Money from Taxing “Bads”?

What do indoor tanning, shopping bags, junk food, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, “gas guzzling” cars, ozone-depleting chemicals, sugary drinks, marijuana, gasoline, coal, carbon-containing fuels, and financial transactions have in common? Taxes that discourage them. The United States taxes indoor
January 28, 2016Donald Marron
Individual Taxes: TaxVox

Should Governments Tax Unhealthy Foods and Drinks?

With obesity and diabetes at record levels, many public health experts believe governments should tax soda, sweets, junk food, and other unhealthy foods and drinks. Denmark, Finland, France, Hungary, and Mexico have such taxes. So do Berkeley, California and the Navajo Nation. Celebrity chef Jamie
December 14, 2015Donald Marron
Federal Budget and Economy: TaxVox

Should governments tax products that are fun but harmful?

Should you face an extra tax if you drink soda? Eat potato chips? Uncork some wine? Light up a cigarette or joint? Toast yourself in a tanning booth? Many governments think so. Mexico taxes junk food. Berkeley taxes sugary soft drinks. Countless governments tax alcohol and tobacco. Several states
November 10, 2015Donald Marron
: TaxVox

It’s Spring Break, and “Everything’s Coming Up Taxes…” (No Daffodils)

Congress is in recess and the Daily Deduction will post Mondays until it reconvenes. We’ll be back to our regular schedule on April 13. Taxpayers: How are IRS budget cuts affecting you? You can find out on Wednesday from IRS Commissioner John Koskinen at a TPC event at the Brookings Institution .
April 6, 2015Renu Zaretsky
Individual Taxes: TaxVox

A Penny for Your Sugar: Setting a Price on Sin

What do you have to drink in your refrigerator? I’ve got kids in grade school, and our fridge always holds their favorite: Juice boxes filled with 100% apple juice. I felt pretty good about that “100%” until I looked at the label. There are 18 grams of sugar in one 6.75-ounce serving. Coca Cola?
April 1, 2015Renu Zaretsky