Arkansas’s Rate Reduction Acceleration

With passage of SB1 in the General Assembly’s third special session, Arkansas last week became the 13th state to authorize an individual income tax rate reduction this year. This round of Arkansas income tax cuts effectively accelerated reforms policymakers enacted eight months ago. The December 2021 changes set the state on course to lower its…

FDA Ban on Flavored Cigars Could Cost $836 Million in Annual Excise Tax Revenue

The FDA’s proposal to ban flavored cigars would be a disruptive force in the cigar market and would carry significant revenue implications for many state governments. Flavored cigars make up between one-third and one-half of all cigar sales. We estimate that the aggregate effect of a ban on flavored cigar sales in the U.S. would…

Does Your State Have a Marriage Penalty?

Today’s map zeroes in on states that have a “marriage penalty” in their individual income tax brackets. Under a graduated-rate income tax system, a taxpayer’s marginal income is subject to progressively higher tax rates. A marriage penalty or “marriage tax penalty” exists when a state’s income brackets for married taxpayers filing jointly are less than double the…

Stock Buyback Tax Would Hurt Investment and Innovation

The Senate-passed Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) calls for a new 1 percent excise tax on stock buybacks, the argument being it would be better for the economy if firms invested their surplus cash in the business, rather than returning this value to shareholders. However, research suggests that buybacks do not hinder investment opportunities, and actually…

8 Back-to-School Shopping Tricks to Save Moms and Dads Money

Back-to-school shopping can put a serious dent in your bank account. In fact, parents plan to spend close to $700 on supplies this year according to a survey conducted by the National Retail Federation. Before you run to the store to start shopping, read these eight savings tricks to help you keep more of your…

Demystifying 1099-K Reporting Thresholds for eBay sellers

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 eBay and other online marketplaces. To help keep sellers informed, TaxAct® and eBay have partnered to help you understand these tax changes and what they will mean…

What European Countries Are Doing about Digital Services Taxes

Over the last few years, concerns have been raised that the existing international tax system does not properly capture the digitalization of the economy. Under current international tax rules, multinationals generally pay corporate income tax where production occurs rather than where consumers or, specifically for the digital sector, users are located. However, some argue that…

7 Creative Ways to Make Extra Money With Passive Income

For many people, passive income sounds like the dream. After all, who doesn’t want to earn extra income on autopilot? Especially in 2022, as we are all dealing with the effects of high inflation rates. Let’s look at what society considers to be passive income, how to get started earning passive income, and how much…

How Does Inflation Reduction Act Minimum Tax Compare to Global Minimum Tax?

Over the course of the last year, it has become clear that Democratic lawmakers want to change U.S. tax rules for large companies. However, as proposals have been debated in recent months, there are have been clear divides between U.S. proposals and the global minimum tax rules. Before getting too far into the weeds, it…

Australia’s Tax and Benefit System Might Deter Working Parents from Advancing in Their Careers

Imagine that a government provides subsidies to single parents that actually increase tax rates on additional work. This is the case for an Australian single parent who earns less than the average wage. With an increase in pay of just AUD 983 more, he would face a 652 percent marginal tax rate. Therefore, despite the…