Scandinavian countries are well-known for their broad social safety net and their public funding of services such as universal health care, higher education, parental leave, and child and elderly care. High levels of public spending naturally require high levels of taxation. In 2019, Denmark’s tax-to-GDP ratio was at 46.3 percent, Norway’s at 39.9 percent, and Sweden’s at […]
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We’re about to launch a free six-week course in state taxation, and we’d like you to join us. This coming Tuesday, February 16th, the Tax Foundation will kick off its “State Tax Policy Boot Camp,” designed with lawmakers and legislative staff in mind, but ideal for anyone interested in gaining a better understanding of state […]
A recent report on tax revenue sources shows the extent to which OECD countries rely on different tax types. Today’s map looks at the corporate income tax, which, compared to individual taxes, social insurance taxes, and consumption taxes, generates a relatively small share of tax revenue in Europe. In 2019—the most recent year for which […]
Table of Contents Key Findings In 2019, OECD countries raised on average one-third of their tax revenue through consumption taxes such as the Value-added Tax (VAT), making consumption taxes the most important revenue source. Social insurance taxes and individual income taxes were the second and third most important sources of tax revenue in the OECD, […]
Sources of state revenue have come under closer scrutiny in light of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, as different tax types have differing volatility and economic impact—although even beyond these unique circumstances, it is important for policymakers to understand the trade-offs associated with different sources of tax revenue. This week’s map looks at what percentage of each […]
The potential override of Gov. Larry Hogan’s (R) veto of a digital advertising tax (HB732) looms large over the current legislative session in Maryland, though it is only one of many tax proposals under consideration in the state. House Bill 732 passed with a veto-proof majority in 2020, and, if lawmakers override the governor’s veto, […]
State tax revenues held steady in 2020, coming in less than one-tenth of 1 percent lower than in 2019, according to the latest JPMorgan research (which is consistent with earlier data), and combined state and local revenues have likely risen year-over-year. This is a curious backdrop to the current federal debate, in which Congress is […]
Although this week’s Super Bowl festivities may be muted, with far fewer parties and celebrations, states with legalized sports betting may have something to cheer: a tax revenue bump thanks to the accompanying excise taxes. The American Gaming Association estimates that Americans will wager a total of $4.3 billion on the highly anticipated matchup of […]
State tax collections declined 4.4 percent in aggregate through the end of September compared to the same nine months in 2019, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released today. The median state experienced a decline of 3.6 percent, and total state tax collections were $37.4 billion lower in the first nine months of 2020 than […]