The Archive

  • Alabama Expands Tax-Free Overtime Eligibility, but Should Repeal Entire Exemption

    Alabama Expands Tax-Free Overtime Eligibility, but Should Repeal Entire Exemption

    Before President-elect Donald Trump proposed it at the federal level, Alabama passed a law exempting overtime wages from taxes back in November 2023. Act 2023-421 (H.B. 217) excluded any amounts received by a full-time, hourly wage employee as compensation for work performed above 40 hours a week from state income taxes, starting January 1, 2024.
  • How Will Trump’s Universal and China Tariffs Impact the Economy?

    How Will Trump’s Universal and China Tariffs Impact the Economy?

    President-elect Trump has promised to impose steep new taxes on trade, including a 10-20 percent tariff on all imports, at least a 60 percent tariff on Chinese imports, and a 25-100 percent tariff on Mexican imports. At least a dozen estimates on Trump’s proposed tariffs show they will have a harmful effect on the American economy, supporting the standard view among economists that tariffs reduce trade and distort production, leading to lower standards of living.
  • Questions About Tax Cuts, Tariffs, and Reconciliation After the Election

    Questions About Tax Cuts, Tariffs, and Reconciliation After the Election

    The clear election victory for Republicans means they will retake the White House, Senate, and (by a slim margin) the House next year, putting them in the driver’s seat to determine the direction of tax reform. Republicans are likely to use a process called budget reconciliation, which allows for budget legislation to be passed out of the House and Senate via a simple majority.