All Tax VOX

Rapidly growing health care costs have been a major driver of federal budget deficits. Could a decline help solve the nation's long-term fiscal problem? 

The political system may not be ready for a carbon tax, but it is hard to read the White House's new climate change report without thinking about how valuable such a levy could be.

Donald Sterling likely treat his historic $2.5 million fine from the NBA as a routine business tax deduction, as is his right. However, a California congressman wants to bar Donald Sterling from taking the deduction. 

Amazon and other online retailers have argued for years that they’ll lose business if they have to collect sales taxes on their online transactions. According to a new study of Amazon sales, they're right, which may increase support by some online sellers for federal legislation to standardize sales tax collections.

Donor-advised funds (DAFs) are an easy, low-cost way for people (who tend to be upper middle-class but not super-rich) to both shelter income and give to their favorite charities. Dave Camp's tax proposal holds a major change for these charitable vehicles, where funds currently can sit indefinitely.

Dave Camp deserves credit  for proposing a tax reform that takes on many special interests. But one provision mistakenly threatens the survival of most community foundations without improving the tax system or strengthening the charitable community.

Should the US tax high-speed trading, like the sort described in Michael Lewis' book? The French already do so -- and a tax could help limit manipulations of the market, too.

If businesses can expense capital costs, and then deduct the interest on those purchases, it amounts to getting a subsidy from the government, writes Howard Gleckman. 

A federally funded program to help pay for the nation's roads, bridges and mass transit could run out of money in July. But Congress faces the politically unpleasant prospect of calling for additional tax revenues to maintain the fund.

For states including Delaware and Wisconsin, proposed property tax hikes would help cover pension and public school costs. But are property taxes the fairest way to fund such programs? 

The nation's tax codes can be hard on small businesses, and Donald Marron writes that tax reform could help shift the tax burden from smaller organizations over to larger ones.

A poll, taken in the midst of tax season, finds that 58 percent of those surveyed think filling out their tax forms is “easy.” Only 38 percent say it is “hard.” Here's the catch: more people are filing their taxes with the help of a professional service.

Figuring out exactly how to answer a question on an IRS tax form can be tricky. But the Brookings Institution's Tax Policy Center has developed an interactive guide that offers up an explanation of each question.

Former IRS official Lois Lerner, who managed the agency's controversial handling of Tea Party-related groups, may face possible criminal charges, while a House committee reportedly said they will vote on a resolution tomorrow to hold her in contempt of Congress.

Last year's American Taxpayer Relief Act (ATRA) restored pre-Bush taxes for high-income households, while the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) created two new taxes aimed at high-income individuals.

Congress continues to debate the fate of tax extenders, a series of tax breaks that, if continued, would have a major impact on future tax reform efforts.

Until now, backers of reform have focused primarily on economic arguments: A reformed tax code would increase growth or create more jobs. But they may do better on tying tax reform to moral issues, such as fairness. 

A national price on carbon currently has little traction in Washington, but the Environmental Protection Agency power plant rule could open the door for a straightforward state-based tax. EPA just needs to set a minimum tax trajectory that any state could adopt.

As the Senate's finance committee chairman, Ron Wyden, is expected to introduce a bill that would reinstate expired tax breaks, Illinois and Pennsylvania are raising some local taxes of their own. 

Congress faces the question of what to do with expired tax subsidies. While some of these provisions were meant to boost the economy after the Great Recession, they could potentially add billions of dollars to the nation's deficit if continued.