Tax Policy Blog

What’s Next for Tax Competition?

The rules of tax competition are changing with the recent agreement on a global minimum tax and other changes to tax rules around the world, but that does not mean the contest is over.

Assessing the EU Tax Observatory’s View on Profit Shifting and the Global Minimum Tax

The EU Tax Observatory has taken an extreme view in assessing the global minimum tax. The rules were not meant to immediately reduce the stock of shifted profits or align profitability levels more closely with employment costs. The rules do change incentives for multinationals, but profits may continue to remain in low-tax jurisdictions for many years.

Is EU VAT Compliance Actually Improving?

While the European Commission focuses on improving VAT compliance, policy is a major contributor to VAT revenue losses. The VAT actionable policy gap is 15.65 percent, more than triple the compliance gap.

Dwindling Savings and Increasing Financial Stress Highlights Need for Tax Reforms

The uncertain future of American finances in a time of potential economic instability points to the need for tax reforms that encourage individuals to save and build financial security in a relatively simple way, such as through universal savings accounts.

Movers and Shakers in the International Tax Competitiveness Index

The 2023 version of the International Tax Competitiveness Index is the 10th edition of the report. Let’s take a look back and see how country ranks have changed over time.

Jeff Bezos’s Move Undercuts Proposed Washington State Wealth Tax

Whether tax savings motivated his move or not, the implications for Washington are very real, and serve to illustrate just how dangerous it can be to design tax systems that rely so overwhelmingly on a very small number of taxpayers choosing to stay put.

New Study Finds TCJA Strongly Boosted Corporate Investment

The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) was the largest corporate tax reform in a generation, lowering the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent, temporarily allowing full expensing for short-lived assets (referred to as bonus depreciation), and overhauling the international tax code.

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October 27, 2023September 3, 2024

Do People Really Move Because of Taxes?

What do The Rolling Stones, NFL star Tyreek Hill, and Maryland millionaires have in common? They all moved because of taxes.

Californians Still Smoking Menthol after Ban: Evidence from a Discarded Pack Audit

It’s been almost a year since California banned the sale of all flavored tobacco products, and the big question is: did it work?

Changing Tax Policy Landscape Will Worsen U.S. Competitiveness

Policymakers on Capitol Hill should prioritize permanent pro-growth policy in the coming years as the economy struggles with inflation and the recovery from the pandemic.

IRS Report Shows Closing the Tax Gap Would Not Close the Deficit

The latest tax gap report from the IRS has generated much media attention—and much misunderstanding.

European Tax Policy Scorecard: Capital Cost Recovery under BEFIT versus Current Member State Policies

A harmonized EU tax base is a project in the making. Policymakers have a chance to put the Union on a path for increased investment and economic growth by focusing on the details of capital cost recovery.

The State Business Tax Climate Index Is Your Guide to Economic “Wins Above Replacement”

Pennsylvania Cigarette Minimum Markups Will Cost the State $47 Million per Year

Minimum markup policies tend to be wildly unpopular among both taxpayers and policymakers. Lawmakers should carefully evaluate whether minimum markup laws are policies that improve the well-being of their constituents.

CCCTB vs. BEFIT: How Have the Proposals Changed?

If the EU is going to harmonize its tax base, it should do so in a way that increases the efficiency and competitiveness of tax policy for the EU as a whole, and not just seek out the lowest common denominator.

Five Takeaways from the New Pillar One Documents

The OECD recently released a trove of new documents on a draft multilateral tax treaty. The U.S. Treasury has opened a 60-day consultation period for the proposal and is requesting public review and input.

Most Successful Fiscal Consolidations Do Not Rely Solely on Tax Hikes

If tax increases are included in a package, international experience points toward raising consumption taxes, rationalizing tax expenditures, and broadening the tax base—not hiking income taxes.

Federal Deficit Grew to $2 Trillion in FY 2023

Outside of the pandemic years, this year’s federal deficit is the highest in U.S. history. While tax revenue has increased about 28 percent since the pre-pandemic year 2019, spending has increased about 46 percent. Annual deficits are headed towards $3 trillion over the next few years.

Nikki Haley’s Plan to Eliminate the Federal Gas Tax Would Be a Mistake

At the most recent Republican primary debate, former governor and United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley (R-SC) proposed eliminating the federal gas tax to lower fuel prices for consumers.

Select Country-Level Revenue Estimates for Pillar Two

Pillar Two implementation is underway in many jurisdictions, and many governments are aiming to get their proposals approved before the end of 2023. However, estimating Pillar Two’s impact on government revenue is proving difficult. As a result, only a few countries have publicly presented their findings.