Republican lawmakers ask Trump to kill IRS Direct File
The new program intended to enable free, online tax filing directly with the government has garnered controversy and praise since its inception.
How tougher regulations on short-term rentals can boost revenue for state, local govs
Some short-term rental properties go undetected by authorities, but a new report offers tips on how officials can crack down on unregulated rental units to boost revenue and reduce their negative impacts on communities.
Going into 2025, cities plan for leaner budgets
A survey of city finance officials found that at least half are wary of the coming year and are forecasting more conservative revenue estimates.
Oregon could become the first state to tax big companies and send the cash to all residents
Some opponents say the rebate will drive up consumer costs far more than sales taxes would.
Soda tax revenues are falling in some cities. That can be a good and bad thing.
Tax soda, and people drink less of it. But successful soda taxes can create problems for the public health and development programs they support.
Time to reset the transportation funding equation
COMMENTARY | The way the nation funds our transportation network is broken. The solutions to fix it already exist. State and local governments just need to pick one.
Democrats cast doubt on whether the ‘Montana Miracle’ is making housing affordable
Gov. Greg Gianforte spearheaded a bipartisan and widely applauded effort to make it easier to build homes, but his Democratic opponent says housing shortages and high property taxes are still hammering Montana residents.
Tax the sale of guns and ammo? Voters in this state are set to decide.
A ballot measure in Colorado is the only one on guns before voters this year. The effort is part of a broader trend to expand excise taxes.
The IRS has made its free tax filing tool permanent. Now, these states want to take it a step further.
Maryland and North Carolina are the latest to join Direct File. They are also planning to allow taxpayers to seamlessly file their state returns alongside their federal ones. It’s a new frontier for tax filing tools, experts say.
Ballots in two cities aim to keep soda taxes from falling flat
Taxing sugary drinks can raise cities’ revenue and improve people’s health, according to research. But state restrictions and industry pushback have stalled such taxes. Can two ballot measures change that?
Inside the tricky politics of special legislative sessions
Governors in several states are trying to get their priorities passed before the November election.
Food prices are high. To help, states are cutting the grocery tax.
The number of states that still tax groceries is shrinking. Voters in two states will decide in November whether to join a movement away from the sales tax.
Could a $1,000 “baby bonus” help people afford to have children?
A New York state senator has floated the idea. Payments for newborns have reduced poverty elsewhere, but are a novel idea in the Empire State.
Ballot questions tackle high property taxes that come with rising home values
Colorado’s new cap on property tax revenue isn’t enough for some activists. Conservatives elsewhere agree.
A bigger child tax credit isn’t coming. The Senate just voted against it.
The bill, which passed the House earlier this year, would have aided 16 million children. But Senate Republicans said it could disincentivize work and hand the election to Democrats.
A tweak to the tax code could break “honest graft” and fix the housing crisis
COMMENTARY | Antiquated tax policies have long rewarded speculators who sit on vacant land and penalized landowners who build something on it. A land value tax could change that.
Data centers demand a massive amount of energy. Here’s how some states are tackling the industry’s impact.
As the draw on the grid from these computer warehouses undergoes explosive growth, states that offer tax exemptions to support the industry are considering whether their approach still makes sense.
Governments, get your refundable tax credits here
COMMENTARY | The Inflation Reduction Act includes green tax credits that state and local agencies can use on clean energy vehicles, infrastructure and renewable energy projects.
After several years of rapid growth, state budgets are downsizing
For most states, 2025 represents a return to more typical economic conditions after an atypical period for their budgets.
States, cities consider ‘mansion taxes’ to fund affordable housing
From sales taxes to real estate transfer taxes, governments are desperately trying to identify dedicated funding tracts for homelessness and housing initiatives.
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