In the blogs: The winners are…

The year’s worst ideas; cyber-currency phrase book; the shutdown and taxes; and other highlights from our favorite tax bloggers. The winners are… Tax Vox (http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/taxvox): The top Lump of Coal Awards for the Worst Tax Idea of 2018, including New Hampshire’s fighting collecting sales taxes; Seattle’s “head tax” on large employers and Sen. Bernie Sanders’s…

10 Tax Reforms for Growth and Opportunity

Key Findings The waning pandemic and robust economic recovery have come with many benefits—plentiful jobs and fast-growing (nominal) incomes—but also serious challenges such as high and rising inflation. Rather than pushing for more fiscal stimulus or leaving it to the Federal Reserve to handle inflation through higher interest rates, policymakers should focus on boosting the…

In the blogs: In with the new

Pre-season checklist; whether carbon taxes; best Twitter bets; and other highlights from our favorite tax bloggers. In with the new Tax Foundation (https://taxfoundation.org/blog): Our favorite opening of the week: “Champagne will flow, ‘Auld Lang Syne’ will be sung, resolutions will be made (and soon forgot, and never brought to mind), and, in a handful of…

Corporate Income Tax Rates in Europe

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…

More People Qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit in 2021 (And Beyond)

There are very few tax breaks available for low-income adults who don’t have children. Thankfully, some important changes were made to the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) last year, making this vital tax benefit available to many more Americans. Wondering if you might qualify to claim this fully refundable tax credit in 2021? Read on…

Tax Fraud Blotter: Home is where the scam is

Refuge of a scoundrel; elder care and hockey tickets; on the flyer; and other highlights of recent tax cases. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Preparer Faheem Olugbodi, a.k.a. Faheem Abdul Nichols and James Moore, 48, was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to preparing fraudulent returns from 2011 through 2013. Olugbodi admitted collecting…

In the blogs: The fun’s back in ‘refund’

Phishing and the season’s latest scams; FBAR whistleblowing returns; best sales-tax questions; and other highlights from our favorite tax bloggers. The fun’s back in ‘refund’ Don’t Mess with Taxes (http://dontmesswithtaxes.typepad.com/): The good word on processing returns — and the even better news about refunds — from the Office of Management and Budget, leaked first by…