Tax

Tax policy wonks often advocate for increases in refundable tax credits (e.g., Child Tax Credit, CTC and Earned Income Tax Credit, EITC) and nonrefundable tax credits (Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, CDCTC) as one solution to help low-income Americans. Arguments in favor of expanding these tax credits appear during economic expansions and contractions alike.…

As the economic recovery is debated amid the coronavirus pandemic, there have been growing calls to include additional public investment in infrastructure such as transportation, airports, buildings, and broadband. Many have argued that the United States has outdated infrastructure and that has weakened the nation’s economic productivity and global competitiveness. As policymakers start thinking about…

The COVID-19 pandemic has damaged the American economy, as unemployment has skyrocketed. Despite job growth in May, the unemployment rate still sits at more than 13 percent, its highest point since the Great Depression. But even before the pandemic, American workers had experienced slow wage growth, for a variety of reasons. Policies to create jobs…

Key Findings In nearly two of every three households in America with dependents, more than one person works to make ends meet. In many cases, when two workers file jointly, they are penalized for having a second earner in the household. This is because the second-earner’s wages are subject to a higher marginal tax rate.…

Countries around the world have implemented and continue to implement emergency tax measures to support their economies during the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. Providing tax relief to the people and companies that are most affected, until the emergency abates, is welcome, as the health issue has created a substantial economic shock. Taxes that require regular payments…

Should Congress manipulate the timing of business tax benefits to support firms in the midst of the COVID-19 economic slump? And if so, how?