Nov 13, 2019
How the U.S. tax code makes inequality worse
New research reveals new insight into the ways in which race or gender can affect a tax bill.
House Ways and Means Committee member Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY) keeps a stack of books that document the current federal tax code and related regulations on his desk during the first markup of the proposed GOP tax reform legislation.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
People don’t disclose their race or gender when they file their taxes. But new research shows how someone’s background can affect their tax bill.
Now a report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities highlights the way the tax code contributes to income inequality with tax breaks that favor the wealthy, especially those earning income from investments, real estate or inheritance, compared to those who just bring home a paycheck.
The National Women’s Law Center also argues that specific provisions built into the tax code create distinct disadvantages for women, women of color in particular.