The Iowa House and Senate have been working towards reducing taxes on commercial, industrial, and railroad properties (CI&R) for the past two legislative sessions. However, both the Senate and the House proposals for the current session are both costly and play to a myth about Iowa taxes on businesses. Both plans differ in their impact … Read more
The Iowa Legislature is currently considering a bill, HSB165, which has raised concerns among local communities. The bill proposes a 2 percent cap on the growth of property tax levies every year, which could significantly increase state control over the budgeting decisions of locally elected city councils and county boards. The proposed cap is not … Read more
For the past few weeks, there has been a heated debate about the tax bill in Washington D.C. Despite long negotiations, the final outcome remains the same: Congress is helping the rich and large businesses while the poorest members are left without any help. This legislation will undoubtedly have a negative impact on Iowa and … Read more
The Iowa General Assembly has kicked off with a primary focus on tax reform, with Governor Kim Reynolds’ proposed plan up for consideration. While the proposal does include some desirable reforms, such as modernizing the sales tax and increasing the standard deduction, it has been met with criticism for its lack of real reforms to … Read more
The Iowa Legislature is currently debating tax reform, but it is crucial that the conversation focuses on actual issues rather than made-up ones. Business tax credits in the state are growing at a faster pace than other forms of state spending and are significant contributors to budget shortfalls. Many of these credits have been questioned … Read more
The state of Iowa’s legislative session in 2014 is facing a difficult budget dilemma due to previous decisions made in 2013. At the start of FY2013, lawmakers had nearly a billion-dollar surplus, which they utilized to provide moderate gains for the middle class. However, the same session also saw the enactment of one of the … Read more
The state of Iowa is grappling with a difficult situation in adequately funding education and other critical priorities due to projections of meager revenue growth for the next fiscal year. The problem is largely due to the state’s long-standing revenue shortfall, which has resulted from a preference for tax cuts over the past two decades. … Read more
The Iowa General Assembly is currently deliberating on expanding the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The EITC is a tax credit offered to less privileged incomes of individuals or couples. It serves as an incentive for work and helps alleviate the burden of payroll and income taxes. The Cedar Rapids Gazette editorial board supports … Read more
The Iowa Democratic Party has suggested changes to its income-tax reform plan to benefit low- and middle-income earners in the state. The original plan proposed lowering rates for all taxpayers by using the revenue from the elimination of federal deductibility. However, the proposed amendments include an increase in the standard deduction and a refundable tax … Read more
An Emphasis Upon Sound Tax Principles The Democratic party in Iowa has presented a proposal to reform the state’s income tax system. The proposal is designed to be revenue neutral, meaning it won’t raise additional revenue for the state. The plan aims to modify various aspects of the tax system such as rates, exemptions, and … Read more