Taxes

The tax treatment of U.S. businesses is a complicated and onerous process for tax preparers, revenue officials, and business owners alike. The tax system treats businesses differently based on their legal form, produces economic distortions, taxes income multiple times, and creates complexity and uncertainty for taxpayers. Even though business taxation has changed in the last

West Virginia’s long road to tax relief was beginning to feel older than the trees, but after many years of efforts, the state’s lawmakers are finally taking home a win. Under an agreement reached over the weekend and pending final action in the House, lawmakers and Gov. Jim Justice (R) reached a deal that will

Keen technophiles may recall that the internet is “a series of tubes” (not a “big truck”), and sometimes those tubes get congested. The late Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) fretted about streaming services crowding out other data packets. The analysis is highly technical, but do your best to follow: “Ten movies streaming across that internet and

One month following California’s implementation of a state-wide flavored cigarette ban, tax-paid cigarette sales dropped 17.3 percent. More than 5.6 million fewer packs were sold in January 2023 than in January 2022. On an annual basis, California will likely see revenues fall by more than $300 million. We previously estimated that a menthol ban in

Big life events often trigger tax changes, and getting married is one of them. Though often overlooked, one of the most important steps you should take after getting married is updating your Form W-4 with your employer. Should I fill out a new W-4 when married? Yes! Your W-4 tells your employer how much tax

Developed countries raise tax revenue through individual income taxes, corporate income taxes, social insurance taxes, taxes on goods and services, and property taxes—the combination of which determines how distortionary or neutral a tax system is. For example, taxes on income can do more economic harm than taxes on consumption and property. Countries across the Organisation

Tennessee joined the ranks of no-income-tax states in 2022 with the phaseout of the Hall Tax on interest and dividend income. But with other states upping their game to attract ever-more-mobile people and businesses, lawmakers and the governor are not content to leave Tennessee’s business taxes in their current, uncompetitive form. Gov. Bill Lee (R)

Key Findings Although most states forgo local income taxes, they are a significant source of local tax revenue in six states and at least a modest source of revenue in 10 others. Some use state definitions of income, while others define income separately or make modifications to the state base. Localities that “piggyback” on the

Did you receive a 1099-K tax form this year? If you’ve never seen this form before and are unsure what to do with it, don’t freak out — we can help you understand your Form 1099-K and guide you through reporting any necessary income. How do I use my 1099-K when filing my tax return?

(a) Local income taxes are excluded. Eleven states have county- or city-level income taxes; the average rates expressed as a percentage of AGI within each jurisdiction are: AL–0.10%; DE–0.16%; IN–0.61%; IA–0.11%; KY–1.31%; MD–2.38%; MI–0.17%; MO–0.21%; NY–1.59%; OH–1.56%; PA–1.22%. In CA, CO, KS, NJ, OR, and WV some jurisdictions have payroll taxes, flat-rate wage taxes, or

Each year, the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) releases a report on the tax expenditures in the U.S. tax code. The report can be useful, particularly for looking at trends over time, but defining which tax provisions count as tax expenditures is a fraught process. As such, simply eliminating all tax expenditures would be misguided,

This week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released data showing that the consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.5 percent in January compared to December 2022, reaching 6.4 percent over the prior 12 months. While inflation has trended down over the past six months, it will likely continue to be above the Federal Reserve’s target

The federal government is on track to run a $1.4 trillion deficit in fiscal year 2023, according to new projections from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). Across the next decade (2024 through 2033), deficits will total more than $20 trillion, reaching an annual budget deficit of nearly $2.9 trillion in 2033. Completely balancing the budget

Following international agreement on Pillar Two, the European Union unanimously adopted a directive implementing the global minimum tax in December 2022. The following month, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) released revenue estimates to assess the real impact of the tax on public finances. The global rules are designed to raise revenue, but

Governors and legislators have initiated income tax rate-cutting conversations in at least 18 states—and in about a dozen of those states, there may be some real traction behind the efforts. That makes for a stark contrast with another set of states in which policymakers are keen on hiking taxes on high earners and increasing the

The value of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies has undoubtedly seen better days. But there’s a small silver lining — if you sold crypto at a loss in 2022, you might be able to save on your tax bill this year. What is the definition of cryptocurrency? Cryptocurrency differs from traditional currency, like the U.S. dollar,

Key Findings The federal tax code remains a major source of frustration and controversy for Americans, and a hindrance to economic growth and opportunity. Other countries, such as Estonia, have proven that sufficient tax revenue can be collected in a less frustrating and more efficient way. This report provides an analysis of the key features

European countries—like almost all countries around the world—require businesses to pay corporate income taxes on their profits. The amount of taxes a business ultimately pays on its profits depends on both the corporate tax base and the corporate tax rate. Today’s map shows how statutory corporate income tax rates compare across European OECD countries. Taking

Are you unsure about your tax situation this year? Not to worry. We’ve put together a list of tax calculators to help you crunch your tax numbers for 2022. Check out our extensive calculator list below and learn how to calculate your AGI, self-employment tax, crypto taxes, and more. Go-to tax calculators Refund Booster1 and

You might get a consolidated 1099 tax statement this year if you received taxable income from investments. Here’s what this form is telling you and how to report your 1099 income to the IRS in TaxAct®. What is a consolidated 1099 tax statement? A consolidated Form 1099 combines five separate 1099 forms into one tax