Type Think tank President Scott A. Hodge Founded 1937 | Location Washington, D.C., U.S. Website taxfoundation.org | |
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Formation December 5, 1937; 79 years ago (1937-12-05)
New York City, New York, U.S. Headquarters 1325 G Street NW, Suite 950 Motto Educating Taxpayers Since 1937 Similar Center on Budget and Policy Pri, Citizens for Tax Justice, Institute on Taxation and Econ, Cato Institute, The Heritage Foundation Profiles | ||
The Tax Foundation is a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, founded in 1937, that collects data and publishes research studies on U.S. tax policies at both the federal and state levels. The Foundation's stated mission is to "improve lives through tax policy research and education that leads to greater economic growth and opportunity." The Tax Foundation is organized as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit educational and research organization.
Contents
- History
- Goals and principles
- Ideology
- Board of directors
- Finances
- Activities
- Criticism from Paul Krugman
- References
The organization is organized into three primary areas of research, carried out by the Foundation's Center for Federal Tax Policy, the Center for State Tax Policy and the Center for Legal Reform. The group is known for its annual reports such as "Facts & Figures: How Does Your State Compare" which was first produced in 1941 and Tax Freedom Day for the United States, which it has produced since the early 1970s.
History
The Tax Foundation was organized on December 5, 1937 in New York City by Alfred P. Sloan, Jr., Chairman of the General Motors Corporation; Donaldson Brown, GM Financial Vice President; William S. Farish, President of Standard Oil Company of New Jersey (Exxon); and Lewis H. Brown, President of Johns-Manville Corporation, who later became the first Chairman of the Board of The Tax Foundation. The stated goal of the organization was "to monitor the tax and spending policies of government agencies". Its offices were located at 50 Rockefeller Plaza and later 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
The Tax Foundation's first project was a successful effort to stop a tax increase in Westchester County, New York, where they provided research and analysis (including an "Expenditure Survey" of state spending) to local activists. By 1943, the Tax Foundation had helped set up taxpayers associations and expenditure councils in 35 states.
During World War II, Tax Foundation research emphasized restraining government spending domestically to finance wartime expenditures. In 1948, the Tax Foundation opened an office in Washington, D.C., and in 1978 relocated there completely. Its research and analysis has historically emphasized publicizing federal and state financial information, arguing against the use of tax systems for "social engineering," and urging "broad bases and low rates" tax reform.
Beginning in 1990, the Tax Foundation "operate[d] as a separate unit" of Citizens for a Sound Economy. By July 1991, the Tax Foundation was again operating as an independent 501(c)(3) organization.
Beginning in 2009, The Tax Foundation's offices were located in the National Press Building in Washington, D.C. In 2015, the Tax Foundation left the National Press Building.
Goals and principles
The Tax Foundation states that its research is guided by what it calls the principles of sound tax policy: simplicity, transparency, neutrality, and stability.
Tax Foundation research is generally critical of tax increases, high business taxes, excise taxes, tax preferences for the housing industry, and use of tax credits (which the Foundation views as "picking winners and losers"). The Foundation has spoken favorably of efforts to balance the federal budget with tax reform and significant spending cuts, such as the Bowles-Simpson plan, the Ryan Plan, and the Wyden-Coats plan.
Ideology
The Tax Foundation describes itself as an "independent tax policy research organization". They are cited in the media as a nonpartisan or bipartisan organization, and are also described as business-friendly or conservative.
Board of directors
As of 2016, the organization's board of directors consists of David P. Lewis (Chairman), James W. Lintott, Bill Archer, Philip English, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Stephen Kranz, Sarah McGill, and Pamela F. Olson, Tom Roesser, and Scott Hodge.
Finances
The Tax Foundation accepts grants from foundations, corporations, and individuals. It does not solicit or accept funds from government sources. The Tax Foundation has earned a 3 out of 4 star financial rating and 4 out of 4 star accountability and transparency rating from Charity Navigator.
Activities
Since 2013, the Tax Foundation has offered guidance to same-sex married couples filing income taxes at the state level, where local laws recognizing same-sex marriage can vary considerably.
Every year, the Tax Foundation calculates and announces Tax Freedom Days in the United States. These studies have been criticized by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), a progressive think tank, and in turn the Tax Foundation has responded to or criticized CBPP reports. However, the two groups have worked together on analysis of the marriage penalty in the US federal income tax.
Criticism from Paul Krugman
In opinion editorials for the New York Times, economist Paul Krugman has characterized the Tax Foundation as "not a reliable source" while criticizing a report by the Tax Foundation comparing corporate tax rates in the United States to those in other countries. Krugman has also accused the Tax Foundation of "deliberate fraud" in connection with a report it issued concerning the American Jobs Act. The Tax Foundation has published various responses to Krugman's criticisms.