TaxVox

The voices of Tax Policy Center's researchers and staff

Individual Taxes

Marriage, Children, Tax Credits, and the Alternative Minimum Tax

April 20, 2011 –
Marriage—or non-marriage—can affect how much tax you pay to Uncle Sam. Ever since Congress created the joint filing status for married couples in 1948, many...
Individual Taxes

S&P Negative Rating: Premonitions of a debt crisis?

April 19, 2011 –
On Monday, Standard and Poor’s pinned a “negative” rating on the United States fiscal outlook. US stock markets reacted poorly. The Dow fell 140 points...
Federal Budget and Economy

Obama’s Spending Calculator

April 19, 2011 –
Now that you’re done filling out your 1040, the White House wants you to know where your tax dollars are going. Its Federal Taxpayer Receipt...
Individual Taxes

Many Urban Poor File Their Taxes Early, Use Rapid Refunds

April 18, 2011 –
An interesting blog from my Urban Institute colleague Brett Theodos on the use of refund anticipation loans and refund anticipation checks among low-income tax filers:...
Individual Taxes

April 15 May Get Less Taxing if Debt Cutters Have Their Way

April 18, 2011 –
I should be doing my taxes, but instead I’m writing this column. When I’m done with that, maybe I’ll do some ironing. I’d do anything...
Federal Budget and Economy

How Would the House Budget Resolution Affect Tax Progressivity?

April 18, 2011 –
The House-passed budget resolution may be the start of a serious conversation about how to address our growing national debt, or it may be an...
Federal Budget and Economy

What Taxes Does Obama Want to Raise?

April 14, 2011 –
In yesterday’s budget speech , President Obama said that one leg of his fiscal policy stool is “tax reform to cut about $1 trillion in...
Federal Budget and Economy

Simplifying Child Related Incentives in the Tax Code

April 14, 2011 –
With only a weekend left to settle up with Uncle Sam, figuring out how much you owe (or stand to gain) is far from child’s...
Federal Budget and Economy

Obama, Ryan, and the Parameters of the Budget Debate

April 13, 2011 –
Imagine for a moment you walk into a dealership to buy the vehicle of your dreams. The salesman asks what you want to pay. You...
Federal Budget and Economy

Municipal Budget Shortfalls

April 12, 2011 –
While the budget difficulties facing states and the federal government are getting a lot of attention, we hear much less about the fiscal woes of...