Taxes

When it comes to “being your own boss,” Americans seem to have it covered. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were about 9.6 million self-employed workers in 2016. This number is projected to grow to 10.3 million by 2026 — a 7.9-percent increase. But when tax season rolls around, many self-employed taxpayers hire tax

Key Findings Starting in 2022 and continuing through 2026, businesses will face several tax changes scheduled as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), including a switch to five-year amortization of R&D expenses, the gradual phaseout of 100 percent bonus depreciation, a tighter interest deduction limitation, and an increase in international tax rates.

As Wisconsin’s gubernatorial election draws near, the spotlight is on a potential flat individual income tax—and its effects on the state’s taxpayers and economy. Unfortunately, there has been much confusion, with bold claims being made based on plans that don’t exist, including claims that a flat tax “would increase taxes on the middle class and working poor.”

Starting next year, 100 percent bonus depreciation for short-lived investment—originally enacted in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA)—will begin to phase down through the end of 2026. Making 100 percent bonus depreciation permanent would boost economic growth and American incomes in any economic environment, but this policy change would be especially valuable if

While changes to federal cannabis law are slow, changes at the state level are accelerating. Recreational cannabis is on the ballot in five states this November—Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri, North Dakota, and South Dakota—giving voters the ability to join 19 states that have already legalized recreational marijuana. Arkansas In Arkansas, Issue 4 would legalize the possession

The Tax Foundation’s recently released 2022 International Tax Competitiveness Index (ITCI), measures the extent to which a country’s tax system adheres to two important aspects of tax policy: competitiveness and neutrality. Over the years, the Index has helped many European countries like Austria, Greece, and the UK design tax reform proposals. As the Index continues

Launch Our Interactive Tool Executive Summary The Tax Foundation’s State Business Tax Climate Index enables business leaders, government policymakers, and taxpayers to gauge how their states’ tax systems compare. While there are many ways to show how much is collected in taxes by state governments, the Index is designed to show how well states structure

You probably know that claiming income tax deductions reduces your taxable income. But did you know that not all deductions are created equal? Maybe you’ve heard the term “above the line” thrown around in tax conversations. Above-the-line deductions are actually adjustments to your taxable income — they are subtracted from your income before your adjusted

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Table of Contents Note: Each year we review and improve the methodology of the Index. For that reason, prior editions are not comparable to the results in this 2022 edition. All data and methodological notes are accessible in our GitHub repository. Below is a preview of the 2022 Index. To access the full report, click the download

On a yearly basis the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) adjusts more than 60 tax provisions for inflation to prevent what is called “bracket creep.” Bracket creep occurs when people are pushed into higher income tax brackets or have reduced value from credits and deductions due to inflation, instead of any increase in real income. The IRS used to

Taxing university endowments has gained popularity recently, partly in response to the Biden administration’s forgiveness of student loan debt. Some view it as a means of holding universities accountable for the product they’re selling. Others view it as a tool to tamp down tuition rates or punish ideological opponents. But do these arguments hold water

The IRS will receive an extra $80 billion in funding over the next decade thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act. Understandably, this announcement has caused some apprehension among taxpayers. Does this new funding mean your risk of an audit will go up this tax season? Let’s look at the facts. We’ll also review how you

When Coloradans go to the polls this November, they will be given the opportunity to permanently lower their income taxes—or to increase those tax burdens. Colorado Proposition 121 would reduce the state’s flat statutory income tax rate from 4.55 percent to 4.4 percent, effective retroactively for tax year 2022. Colorado Proposition FF, on the other hand,

Updated tax brackets for the year 2022 Your tax bracket shows you the tax rate that you will pay for each portion of your income. Below, we go over some helpful examples and also address myths about how tax brackets work. The progressive tax system ensures that all taxpayers pay the same rates on the same

Nearly five years ago, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) brought dramatic changes to U.S. tax policy. The federal corporate tax rate fell from 35 percent to 21 percent and other reforms improved the tax treatment of business investment, lowered taxes for individuals and families, and introduced a new system for taxing foreign profits.

California is awash in plans to raise taxes. An under-the-radar piece of legislation will functionally increase the top marginal income tax rate by 1.1 percent in 2024 (with administrative authority to bring it to 1.5 percent), while a pending ballot measure would add a new 1.75 percent surcharge on the income of the highest earners,

Over the past two years, policymakers and taxpayers have grappled with proposals to increase taxes as ideas introduced in the 2020 presidential campaign were transformed into legislation. This effort culminated in August with the enactment of the Inflation Reduction Act. While many of the tax increases considered over the last two years were eventually shelved,

Key Findings Last-in, First-out (LIFO) and First-in, First-out (FIFO) are two methods of inventory accounting used for both financial accounting and tax purposes. Both LIFO and FIFO rely on the accounting principle of deducting costs from income when goods are sold. This principle often comes into conflict with the economic principle of deducting costs when

Updated Sept. 12, 2022 At the end of August 2022, President Biden revealed that borrowers could get up to $10,000 of their federal student loans forgiven. If you received a Pell Grant, a federal grant designed to provide student aid to those from low-income households, you could have up to $20,000 of your federal student