Kurt Wise

Fair Share Tax on Incomes Over $1 Million Would Generate at Least $2 Billion a Year

MassBudget estimates that the Fair Share tax on incomes over $1 million is likely to generate at least $2 billion a year in new revenue if approved by voters in November 2022. MassBudget assessed revenue estimates from three respected sources and considered important data differences and assumptions built into each of the three analyses. The …

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When A Surplus Is Not Extra

Sometimes a “surplus” is not really a surplus at all, and the term “tax surplus” can be particularly misleading. A tax surplus occurs when tax collections come in higher than the amount expected when the state created its budget at the beginning of the fiscal year. When that initial estimate turns out to be too low, there is a “surplus.” It does not mean that the state budget has already met the needs of the moment or that there is extra unneeded revenue.

Options to Adjust the Estate Tax While Retaining Revenue and Progressivity

The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center was asked to outline options for changes to the estate tax that would preserve revenue, maintain progressivity, and also cut taxes on or exempt estates with a taxable value up to around $1.2 million. Since households subject to the estate tax are among the state’s wealthiest taxpayers, any reductions to revenue from the estate tax represent a transfer of wealth from the Commonwealth to its wealthiest families. Even so, some options are better than others.

A “Millionaire Tax” Would Advance Racial Justice in Massachusetts

Together, the people of Massachusetts can build a better Commonwealth, one that advances both economic and racial justice. We can transform our communities by addressing the backlog of crumbling roads, bridges, and public transit systems. We can replace aging schools with modern buildings, ones that are well-resourced, both with supplies and staff. We can provide …

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With “Millionaire Tax,” Massachusetts’ Top Tax Rate Would Compare Well to Top Rates in Other States

Why do we need new tax revenue in Massachusetts? In order to build an economically and racially just Commonwealth, it is necessary for our state government to collect enough revenue to pay for key investments – ones that will create new opportunities for all our people and allow every community to thrive. These include investments …

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Massachusetts Should Prohibit “Double-Dip” Tax Break for Profitable Businesses

Click here for a PDF version of this statement. S.D. 172, “An act providing financial relief to small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic”, is bad fiscal policy, bad economic policy, bad social policy and bad tax policy. Moreover, the problem that supporters of S.D. 172 argue must be fixed doesn’t actually exist. PPP loans were …

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