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Assessing the Federal Deduction for State and Local Tax Payments

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  • Metcalf, Gilbert E.

Abstract

This paper examines the distributional and behavioral impacts of ending the deductibility of state and local taxes against the federal individual income tax. I carry out a number of distributional analyses — considering both variation across income and across states — of the subsidy from deductibility as well as the distributional impact of potential partial reforms. I also consider how behavioral responses affect the distributional analysis. Using a large panel of data on state and local governments, I find that deductibility increases reliance on deductible taxes and increases state and local spending out of own-source revenue.

Suggested Citation

  • Metcalf, Gilbert E., 2011. "Assessing the Federal Deduction for State and Local Tax Payments," National Tax Journal, National Tax Association;National Tax Journal, vol. 64(2), pages 565-590, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:ntj:journl:v:64:y:2011:i:2:p:565-90
    DOI: 10.17310/ntj.2011.2S.06
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    10. Stiglitz, Joseph E., 1982. "Self-selection and Pareto efficient taxation," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 17(2), pages 213-240, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Christian A. L. Hilber & Tracy M. Turner, 2014. "The Mortgage Interest Deduction and its Impact on Homeownership Decisions," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 96(4), pages 618-637, October.
    2. Howard Chernick & Jennifer Tennant, 2010. "Federal-State Tax Interactions in the United States and Canada," Publius: The Journal of Federalism, CSF Associates Inc., vol. 40(3), pages 508-533, Summer.
    3. John M. Foster, 2014. "Tax Exporting and the Business Share of Sales Tax Levies," Public Budgeting & Finance, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(4), pages 80-99, December.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H2 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue
    • H71 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue
    • H77 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - Intergovernmental Relations; Federalism

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