Center for Federal Tax Policy

The mission of our federal program is to promote tax and fiscal policy that leads to greater U.S. competitiveness, higher economic growth, and improved quality of life for all taxpayers.

We have several projects, such as the Growth and Opportunity Agenda and Options for Reforming America’s Tax Code, which help us educate taxpayers, journalists, and policymakers on how the U.S. tax system works and the impact of federal tax changes on taxpayers and the economy.

Our Center for Federal Tax Policy hosts Tax Foundation University, a crash course designed to educate congressional staff on the economics of tax policy. Our experts are also a go-to source in the media and are frequently cited in top outlets like The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. See Our Experts

Economic and Tax Modeling

Since 2012, we have used our Taxes and Growth (TAG) macroeconomic model to analyze dozens of legislative and campaign tax proposals, including every major tax plan put forth during the 2016 presidential campaigns, the House GOP’s 2016 Tax Reform Blueprint, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and President Biden’s tax reform agenda. See Our Economic and Tax Modeling

For a look at where tax modeling started, explore the extensive body of work from the Institute for Research on the Economics of Taxation (IRET), the think tank that pioneered dynamic tax modeling. Explore the IRET Archives

Featured Issues

Featured Projects

Navigating the 2025 tax reform options for Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Expirations

May 7, 2024 May 7, 2024

Options for Navigating the 2025 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Expirations

Policymakers should have two priorities in the upcoming economic policy debates: a larger economy and fiscal responsibility. Principled, pro-growth tax policy can help accomplish both.

Election 2024 tracking 2024 tax plans from Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Tim Scott, Vivek Ramaswamy

November 8, 2023 September 4, 2024

Tracking 2024 Presidential Tax Plans

Tax policy has become a significant focus of the U.S. 2024 presidential election. Our new interactive tool helps keep track of the tax policies proposed by presidential candidates during their campaigns.

Details and analysis of the economic growth and opportunity US tax reform plan includes federal flat tax, distributed profits tax, and eliminating the federal estate tax

June 29, 2023 June 26, 2024

Details and Analysis of a Tax Reform Plan for Growth and Opportunity

The federal tax code remains a major source of frustration and controversy for Americans, and a hindrance to economic growth and opportunity. Other countries, such as Estonia, have proven that sufficient tax revenue can be collected in a less frustrating and more efficient way.

Tax Foundation experts analyze ways to rein in the national debt, including US debt and deficits and federal budget and US spending and taxes

September 12, 2023 October 10, 2023

How to Rein in the National Debt

Now is the time for lawmakers to focus on long-term fiscal sustainability, as further delay will only make an eventual fiscal reckoning that much harder and more painful. Congressional leaders should follow through on convening a fiscal commission to deal with the long-term budgetary challenges facing the country.

Risks to the U.S. Tax Base from Pillar Two

August 30, 2023 November 20, 2023

Risks to the U.S. Tax Base from Pillar Two

A growing international tax agreement known as Pillar Two presents two new threats to the U.S. tax base: potential lost revenue and limitations on Congress’s ability to set its own tax policy.

South Dakota v Wayfair Moore v. United States tax unrealized income gains Obergefell v. Hodges: Supreme Court Upholds Same-Sex Marriage U.S. Supreme Court Nomination 2018

August 30, 2023 June 20, 2024

How the Moore Supreme Court Case Could Reshape Taxation of Unrealized Income

A major case pending before the U.S. Supreme Court (Moore v. United States) is calling into question provisions on large portions of the U.S. tax base which could quickly become legally uncertain, putting significant revenue at stake.

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685 Results

US business tax compliance costs survey

September 4, 2024 September 5, 2024

Results of a Survey Measuring Business Tax Compliance Costs

Lawmakers should consider compliance costs—not just tax liabilities—when evaluating reforms to business income taxation.

US Infrastructure and US Transportation Funding for Highways Vehicle Miles Traveled VMT Tax

August 7, 2024

Expanding User Fees for Transportation: Roads and Beyond

By 2034, the gas tax and other car-related excise taxes are projected to raise less than half of the Highway Trust Fund’s outlays. While broader tax and spending reforms are necessary for overall deficit reduction, improving transportation funding would be a crucial step forward.

Puerto Rico Tax Competitiveness and Pillar Two Global Tax Deal

July 11, 2024 July 30, 2024

Puerto Rican Competitiveness and Pillar Two

Puerto Rico, a US territory with a limited ability to set its own tax policies, will be the first part of the US to be substantially affected by Pillar Two, the global tax agreement that seeks to establish a 15 percent minimum tax rate on corporate income.

Biden tariffs and Trump tariffs tracking the economic impact of US imposed tariffs

June 26, 2024 July 16, 2024

Tariff Tracker: Tracking the Economic Impact of the Trump-Biden Tariffs

The Trump administration imposed nearly $80 billion worth of new taxes on Americans by levying tariffs on thousands of products in 2018 and 2019, amounting to one of the largest tax increases in decades. The Biden administration has kept most of the Trump administration tariffs in place

Joe Biden State of the Union Address 2024 Tax Plan and Proposals

June 21, 2024 July 16, 2024

Details and Analysis of President Biden’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Proposal

President Biden is proposing extraordinarily large tax hikes on businesses and the top 1 percent of earners that would put the US in a distinctly uncompetitive international position and threaten the health of the US economy.

Reigning in America's .3 trillion tax-exempt economy of 501c3 nonprofit tax form laws

June 18, 2024 June 18, 2024

Reining in America’s $3.3 Trillion Tax-Exempt Economy

For over a century, lawmakers have exempted politically favored organizations and industries from the tax code. As a result, the tax-exempt nonprofit economy now comprises 15 percent of GDP, roughly equal to the fifth-largest economy in the world.

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Since 1937, our principled research, insightful analysis, and engaged experts have informed smarter tax policy in the U.S. and internationally. For over 80 years, our mission has remained the same: to improve lives through tax policies that lead to greater economic growth and opportunity.

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