Taxes

Over the last six months, European perceptions of the Inflation Reduction Act have been a rollercoaster. European policymakers were hopeful that the Inflation Reduction Act would implement Janet Yellen’s Pillar Two commitment at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). But hope turned to disappointment when the final text was fundamentally different from Pillar Two.

It’s time to review some important tax basics before the upcoming tax season. Here are seven things to remember when e-filing your federal income tax return this year — and how each could impact your refund amount. 1.       Life events As you go through the e-filing process, TaxAct® provides a sneak peek of your estimated

The recent agreement on a global minimum tax and other changes to tax rules around the world have called into question the future of tax competition. It is difficult to anticipate how tax competition will ultimately be impacted by these changes, although I seriously doubt that the usefulness of Tax Foundation’s International Tax Competitiveness Index

State recreational marijuana taxes are one of the hottest policy issues in the U.S. Currently, 19 states (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington) have implemented legislation to legalize and tax recreational marijuana sales. This election season is full

As Maryland’s elected comptroller, Peter Franchot (D) is technically the defendant in two cases challenging the state’s first-in-the-nation digital advertising tax, whether he likes it or not. These days, he doesn’t seem too happy about it. In a statement issued after a Maryland circuit court ruled against the tax on three separate grounds, Franchot said

You’ve heard about the new IRS reporting thresholds for Form 1099-K that went into effect this year, but you may have some follow-up questions about how it applies to you. Let’s look at some common concerns we see from online sellers and how to handle some unique situations, like selling inherited items. You only owe

If the new 1099-K reporting thresholds have you confused as an online seller or payment app user, you’re not alone. But don’t worry — we’re here to help you separate fact from fiction. Below we’ll address some common misconceptions you might have heard about these changes and the truth about how your taxes could be

Tax Foundation recently released the 2022 International Tax Competitiveness Index (ITCI) measuring the competitiveness and neutrality of countries’ tax systems. Since 2020, Spain has dropped from 26th to 34th (out of 38 countries) in the ITCI due to multiple tax hikes, new taxes, and weak performances in all five index components. In Spain’s case, some

If you sell items online, you’ve probably heard about new IRS reporting thresholds that went into effect this year. These new requirements have caused some confusion for sellers on online marketplaces. Not to worry — we’re here to help you understand these tax changes and what they will mean for the tax returns you’ll file

Key Findings Carbon leakage occurs when a climate policy in one jurisdiction leads to emissions-producing activity simply shifting to a different jurisdiction. Leakage raises both environmental concerns—as it undermines emissions reduction efforts—and economic concerns. In the aggregate, leakage is relatively small, but it could have an outsized impact on specific emissions-intensive, trade-exposed (EITE) industries. Using

When it comes to “being your own boss,” Americans seem to have it covered. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were about 9.6 million self-employed workers in 2016. This number is projected to grow to 10.3 million by 2026 — a 7.9-percent increase. But when tax season rolls around, many self-employed taxpayers hire tax

Key Findings Starting in 2022 and continuing through 2026, businesses will face several tax changes scheduled as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), including a switch to five-year amortization of R&D expenses, the gradual phaseout of 100 percent bonus depreciation, a tighter interest deduction limitation, and an increase in international tax rates.

As Wisconsin’s gubernatorial election draws near, the spotlight is on a potential flat individual income tax—and its effects on the state’s taxpayers and economy. Unfortunately, there has been much confusion, with bold claims being made based on plans that don’t exist, including claims that a flat tax “would increase taxes on the middle class and working poor.”

The Tax Foundation’s recently released 2022 International Tax Competitiveness Index (ITCI), measures the extent to which a country’s tax system adheres to two important aspects of tax policy: competitiveness and neutrality. Over the years, our Index has helped many European countries like Austria, Greece, and the UK design tax reform proposals. As the Index continues to

Starting next year, 100 percent bonus depreciation for short-lived investment—originally enacted in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA)—will begin to phase down through the end of 2026. Making 100 percent bonus depreciation permanent would boost economic growth and American incomes in any economic environment, but this policy change would be especially valuable if

While changes to federal cannabis law are slow, changes at the state level are accelerating. Recreational cannabis is on the ballot in five states this November—Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri, North Dakota, and South Dakota—giving voters the ability to join 19 states that have already legalized recreational marijuana. Arkansas In Arkansas, Issue 4 would legalize the possession

Launch Our Interactive Tool Executive Summary The Tax Foundation’s State Business Tax Climate Index enables business leaders, government policymakers, and taxpayers to gauge how their states’ tax systems compare. While there are many ways to show how much is collected in taxes by state governments, the Index is designed to show how well states structure

You probably know that claiming income tax deductions reduces your taxable income. But did you know that not all deductions are created equal? Maybe you’ve heard the term “above the line” thrown around in tax conversations. Above-the-line deductions are actually adjustments to your taxable income — they are subtracted from your income before your adjusted

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Table of Contents Note: Each year we review and improve the methodology of the Index. For that reason, prior editions are not comparable to the results in this 2022 edition. All data and methodological notes are accessible in our GitHub repository. Below is a preview of the 2022 Index. To access the full report, click the download