Taxes

Today’s map looks at which states levy a gross receipts tax, which is often considered one of the most economically damaging taxes. Shifting from state gross receipts taxes would represent a pro-growth change to make tax codes friendlier to businesses and consumers alike, which is especially necessary in an increasingly mobile economy. Gross receipts taxes are applied…

Hey, you. Did you know you don’t have to be a tax genius to file your own taxes? How to DIY your tax return We get it — filing your own tax return can be intimidating if you’ve never done it before. But once you get started, you might realize it’s much easier than you…

If you are one of the many Americans who got a significant refund after filing this year, you might be wondering how you should invest your tax refund. 1. Stash it in a savings account or emergency fund. While saving may not be the most exciting option, it’s always good to have some cash on…

It doesn’t matter if you’re just starting out as a small business owner or you’ve been doing it for a while now — we all know mixing business with pleasure can be a slippery slope. Some businesses, such as LLCs and corporations, are required to keep their business and personal finances separate. When you are…

Let’s all breathe a collective sigh of relief — this year’s filing season is finally over. Now that tax filing is behind you, what could you have done differently? One common mistake taxpayers often make is waiting until tax time to think about their taxes. But by thinking ahead and making some financial tweaks now,…

Last week, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its long overdue report on the nation’s budget and economic outlook for the years 2022 through 2032. Normally published at the beginning of the year, the delayed report reflects higher-than-anticipated inflation, tax revenues, deficits, and debt since the previous update CBO published nearly a year ago in…

Over the past decade, the state tax landscape has grown increasingly competitive as policymakers have sought to attract investment and promote economic opportunity and growth in their states. The past two years in particular have seen an extraordinary increase in tax reform efforts, given states’ strong revenue growth despite the pandemic and policymakers’ desire to…

To ensure the functioning of its internal market, the European Union (EU) sets a minimum excise duty on cigarettes. It consists of a specific component and an ad valorem component, resulting in a minimum overall excise duty of €1.80 (US $2.13) per 20-cigarette pack and 60 percent of an EU country’s weighted average retail selling price…

As out-of-control inflation strains families’ budgets, lawmakers across the country are casting about for ways to respond. In Oklahoma, legislators have proposed sending taxpayers $75 checks in December ($150 for married couples) to help blunt the impact of higher prices. In one respect, it’s a drop in the bucket, with inflation costing the average household…

A decade after Kansas’s failed tax experiment, memories linger and continue to color the debate on tax reform and tax relief across the country, no matter how dissimilar other states’ plans are from the unbalanced and imprudent plan championed by then-Gov. Sam Brownback (R). The Kansas experience is so infamous that “what about Kansas?” is…

Today we continue our map series on the 2022 State Business Tax Climate Index with a map showing states’ rankings on the Index’s sales and excise tax component. The sales tax rate and structure can make a state more or less attractive to businesses for two key reasons: (1) some states apply the sales tax to business inputs, which drives up…

One of the hardest parts about doing your taxes? Waiting for that refund to hit your bank account. If you’re expecting a tax refund this year, here’s how you can check on the status of your refund — and when you can expect to have that cash in hand. Ways to check the status of…