Search Results

Advanced search parameters have been applied.
open access

Tax Policy and Disaster Recovery

Description: This report discusses, in broad terms, disaster-related tax policy. Challenges associated with using the tax code to deliver federal financial assistance following natural disasters are also discussed.
Date: September 11, 2018
Creator: Sherlock, Molly F.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Taxes and the Economy: An Economic Analysis of the Top Tax Rates Since 1945 (Updated)

Description: Income tax rates are at the center of many recent policy debates over taxes. Some policymakers argue that raising tax rates, especially on higher income taxpayers, to increase tax revenues is part of the solution for long-term debt reduction. This report examines the top tax rates since 1945 and analyzes the ways in which tax rates affect economic growth.
Date: December 12, 2012
Creator: Hungerford, Thomas L.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

IRS Reform: Innocent Spouse Rule

Description: Married couples filing joint tax returns are liable individually and as a couple for all taxes due on the return with a limited exemption for innocent spouses. This report discusses joint and several liability, which has been the subject of much criticism and calls for reform or elimination.
Date: July 2, 1998
Creator: Ripy, Thomas B.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Qualified Charitable Distributions from Individual Retirement Accounts: Features and Legislative History

Description: A provision of the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (P.L. 109-280) allows tax-free distributions from Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) for charitable purposes. This report describes the IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) provision.
Date: February 4, 2015
Creator: Topoleski, John J. & Sidor, Gary
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

An Introduction to the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit

Description: This report discusses the low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) program, which is one of the federal government’s primary policy tools for encouraging the development and rehabilitation of affordable rental housing. These non-refundable federal housing tax credits are awarded to developers of qualified rental projects via a competitive application process administered by state housing finance authorities.
Date: November 7, 2014
Creator: Keightley, Mark P. & Stupak, Jeffrey M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Energy Tax Policy: Issues in the 112th Congress

Description: The economic rationale for interventions in energy markets helps inform the debate surrounding energy tax policy. This report begins by providing background on the economic rationale for energy market interventions, highlighting various market failures. After identifying possible market failures in the production and consumption of energy, possible interventions are discussed. The report concludes with an analysis of energy tax policy as it stands at the start of the 112th Congress.
Date: September 24, 2012
Creator: Sherlock, Molly F.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Research Tax Credit: Current Law and Policy Issues for the 114th Congress

Description: Technological innovation is a primary engine of long-term economic growth, and research and development (R&D) serves as the lifeblood of innovation. The federal government encourages businesses to invest more in R&D than they otherwise would in several ways, including a tax credit for increases in spending on qualified research above a base amount. This report describes the current status of the credit, summarizes its legislative history, discusses policy issues it raises, and describes legisla… more
Date: May 22, 2015
Creator: Guenther, Gary
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Federal Estate, Gift, and Generation-skipping Taxes: A Description of Current Law

Description: This report contains an explanation of the major provisions of the Federal estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes. The discussion divides the Federal estate tax into three components: the gross estate, deductions from the gross estate, and computation of the tax, including allowable tax credits.
Date: January 29, 2003
Creator: Luckey, John R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Internet Taxation: Issues and Legislation

Description: The Internet Tax Freedom Act (ITFA) placed a three-year moratorium on the ability of state and local governments to (1) impose new taxes on Internet access or (2) impose any multiple or discriminatory taxes on electronic commerce. The act grandfathered the state and local access taxes that were “... generally imposed and actually enforced prior to October 1, 1998 ....” This report discusses issues of state and local taxation of Internet transactions because commerce conducted by parties in diff… more
Date: February 3, 2005
Creator: Maguire, Steven & Noto, Nonna A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Major Tax Issues in the 108th Congress

Description: Tax policy is frequently considered by policymakers as a tool for boosting economic performance in various ways, and the likely economic effects of tax policy are often hotly debated. A brief overview of the current economic context is thus a good starting point for looking at tax issues facing the current Congress. This report provides an overview of major tax issues. The report begins by describing three aspects of the economic context in which the tax policy debate during 2004 is likely to o… more
Date: September 9, 2004
Creator: Brumbaugh, David L.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Certain Temporary Tax Provisions Scheduled to Expire in 2009 (“Extenders”)

Description: This report discusses numerous temporary tax provisions exist in the tax code. Often referred to as “extenders,” these provisions were originally enacted with an expiration date that has then been temporarily extended, in some cases numerous times.
Date: September 8, 2010
Creator: Bickley, James M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Federal Excise Taxes on Tobacco Products: Rates and Revenues

Description: This report examines increases in excise tax rates on tobacco products contained in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (P.L. 105-33). Under that act, the increased rates on tobacco products became effective in two stages. The first scheduled increase in rates occurred on January 1, 2000, while the second increase in rates occurred two years later on January 1, 2002
Date: April 28, 2005
Creator: Talley, Louis Alan
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Tax Gap: Administration Proposal to Require Information Reporting on Merchant Payment Card Reimbursements

Description: The high current and forecast budget deficits as well as pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) procedures have resulted in congressional and executive branch interest in raising additional revenue through proposals for improved tax compliance. The Bush Administration’s FY2009 budget includes a proposal (the proposal) to require each payment card processor to inform the IRS on the net dollar amount paid to reimburse each merchant (i.e., seller) for his payment card receipts in a calendar year. Payment cards con… more
Date: April 28, 2008
Creator: Bickley, James M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Federal Estate, Gift, and Generation-Skipping Taxes: A Description of Current Law

Description: This report contains an explanation of the major provisions of the federal estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes. The discussion divides the federal estate tax into three components: the gross estate, deductions from the gross estate, and computation of the tax, including allowable tax credits. The federal estate tax is computed through a series of adjustments and modifications of a tax base known as the "gross estate." Certain allowable deductions reduce the gross estate to the … more
Date: May 4, 2012
Creator: Luckey, John R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Tax Credits for Individual Development Accounts

Description: An individual development account (IDA) is a structured savings instrument for lower income individuals. This report discusses legislation introduced in the 108th Congress to establish IDA programs utilizing tax benefits to encourage program development.
Date: February 8, 2006
Creator: Scott, Christine
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Energy Tax Incentives in the 108th Congress: A Comparison of the House and Senate Versions of H.R. 6 and the Senate Finance Committee Amendment

Description: This report discusses energy taxes incentives, which have long been an integral component of this nation’s energy policy. Efforts to significantly expand existing energy tax subsidies have been undertaken since the 106th Congress, but controversy over various non-tax energy policy provisions — corporate average fuel economy standards, the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge, etc. — have helped stall the legislation.
Date: August 19, 2003
Creator: Lazzari, Salvatore
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Internet Tax Bills in the 105th Congress

Description: This report tracks the evolution and content of the Internet tax freedom bills. In general, the bills would impose a federal moratorium on the ability of state and local governments to impose taxes on certain aspects of the Internet and would establish a temporary federal commission to study selected issues and make policy recommendations.
Date: August 21, 1998
Creator: Noto, Nonna A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Tax Deductions for Catastrophic Risk Insurance Reserves: Explanation and Economic Analysis

Description: According to the Insurance Services Office, Inc., (ISO), the property/casualty (p/c) insurance industry paid $62.2 billion in catastrophe losses from 24 disasters and more than 4.4 million claims in 2005, making 2005 the most costly year for catastrophe losses. This report begins by providing some background on the market for catastrophe insurance. It continues by describing the proposal for tax-deductible reserve accounts as set forth in H.R. 164/S. 926 of the 110th Congress, and concludes by … more
Date: June 5, 2008
Creator: King, Rawle O.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
Back to Top of Screen