Aravind Boddupalli’s Tweets

🚘 [NEW RESEARCH ON FINES & FEES] 🚘

@livia_mucciolo

& I dived into how speeding ticket revenues are allocated in each state & ten cities. We found in most places, some portion goes back to courts or police funds. [1/6] tpc.io/3tj91cX

Tonantzin Libertad Carmona (TLC)

@Tonantzin_LC

Jun 3

“Policymakers, tax administrators, researchers, and the general public would benefit from an improved understanding of how taxes intersect with issues of racial equity. Getting more and better data will be a first step in that path.” -

Quote Tweet

· Jun 3

A new GAO report on the study of tax policy and its impact by race reinforces the need for access to better data. tpc.io/3mbh8Dv

Jun 3

A new GAO report on the study of tax policy and its impact by race reinforces the need for access to better data.

New GAO Report Underscores Importance of Better Data To Study Race

While the federal income tax system may appear “colorblind” or race-neutral to some, it can mitigate or exacerbate racial inequities . Unfortunately, the IRS does...

Urban Institute

Jun 3

While the federal income tax system may appear "colorblind" or race-neutral to some, it can mitigate or exacerbate racial inequities, writes

New GAO Report Underscores Importance of Better Data To Study Race

While the federal income tax system may appear “colorblind” or race-neutral to some, it can mitigate or exacerbate racial inequities . Unfortunately, the IRS does...

The Price Kids Pay: Schools and Police Punish Students With Costly Tickets for Minor Misbehavior

ProPublica

@propublica

Apr 30

Illinois law bans school officials from fining students. Our investigation with

@chicagotribune

found that police are handing out fines for the schools, issuing costly tickets that burden families.

propublica.org

Illinois law bans schools from fining students. So local police are doing it for them, issuing thousands of tickets a year for truancy, vaping, fights and other misconduct. Children are then thrown...

On April 1, 2002, a press release announced, “The Tax Policy Center, a new joint venture between the Urban Institute and the Brookings Institution” was...

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Elaine Maag

@ElaineMaag

Mar 11

Great summary from my colleague

on the free file program. We can get a distorted view in DC of how big the program is - b/c we have some great #VITA sites. The program should be expanded. Better - all should be able to go to the IRS website and file their taxes free!

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The Uncertain Future of the IRS Free File Program

· Mar 11

Most of us dread filing tax returns—it’s too complicated and often too expensive. The Free File Program eased some of those burdens each year for a few million tax filers, including me. But the program's future is uncertain. tpc.io/3MAMrn7 via @TaxPolicyCenter

Most of us dread filing tax returns—it’s too complicated, too confusing, and often too expensive. The Free File Program eased some of those burdens for...

Mar 10

Many of us are getting ready to file our tax return before the April 18 deadline. The IRS Free File system helped make things easier, but only 5% of filers utilize it and private sector services have backed out of the program. Does Free File have a future? tpc.io/3CyrK6J

Richard C. Auxier

Mar 10

"Less than 5% of eligible tax filers use Free File. It's time to redesign it." New

post from

on a much needed improvement for tax season.

The Uncertain Future of the IRS Free File Program

Most of us dread filing tax returns—it’s too complicated, too confusing, and often too expensive. The Free File Program eased some of those burdens for...

Mar 3

Fines and fees don't account for a huge amount of state and local revenue. But they disproportionately impact lower income households of color. And several states allow the funds to backfill police and court budgets, creating a conflict of interest. tpc.io/33h2xk6

Is TurboTax Free? What About Easy? Not for This Freelancer.

ProPublica

@propublica

Mar 2

70% of Americans can file their taxes for free through Free File, according to the IRS. In reality, only about 1% of those who are eligible actually use the service.

propublica.org

One reporter spent 2021 freelancing, giving her just the kind of low-paying tax mess that TurboTax’s innovative services or the IRS Free File program should be able to help with. Her foray into...

The IRS already knows how much tax you'll owe, so why do Americans have to pay so much to file...

MarketWatch

@MarketWatch

Feb 27

OPINION: Why should taxpayers have to navigate the tedious, costly tax filing system at all? Emeritus professor of law Beverly Moran has an answer.

marketwatch.com

Filing taxes could be free and easy, but tax-prep companies and antitax politicians have fought to make it expensive, complicated and annoying.

Feb 22

17 states allow for speeding ticket fine revenue to be allocated to law enforcement and court budgets. This creates a conflict of interest for a revenue source that disproportionately harms lower-income households and people of color. tpc.io/33h2xk6

Feb 10

Traffic fines and fees don't make up a large portion of revenue raised by states. But the revenue often goes to law enforcement and judicial budgets, creating a conflict of interest that can harm lower-income households and exacerbate racial disparities. tpc.io/33h2xk6

Just published a new

report on state tax cuts. Chart tells the story: Income tax rate cuts in AZ & OH went to high-income households while EITCs in NM & MD went to low-income households. Why does this matter? urban.org/research/publi

Catherine Rampell

@crampell

Feb 9

analysis of 2021 tax cuts passed in Arizona, Maryland, New Mexico, and Ohio, showing how each state’s tax cut affected different income groups. via

taxpolicycenter.org/publications/h

Feb 9

29 states enacted tax cuts last year and more are under consideration in 2022. But who is really benefiting?

modeled recent tax cuts enacted in Arizona, Maryland, New Mexico and Ohio to estimate the tax change by income and by race. tpc.io/3rBLQZR

Fines and Fees Justice Center

@FinesandFeesJC

Feb 2

Over 30 countries levy fines using an income-graduated model — yet U.S. lawmakers have failed to take this idea seriously. “What deters me is different from what would deter a minimum-wage worker and what would deter Bill Gates," said

@LisaFoster_FFJC

theatlantic.com

The Other Speed Trap

America’s traffic laws hurt the poor, and don’t really deter anyone. But what if traffic fines scaled with income?

Feb 1

TPC is looking for a research assistant! If you want to work with some of the best public finance economists around and explore federal, state and local fiscal issues, apply here: urban.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Urban-Ca

@econ_ra

Brakeyshia R. Samms (she/her)

@BrakeyshiaSamms

Jan 31

My latest for

@iteptweets

: It's important to remember that the tax provisions in #BuildBackBetter would help advance racial equity. Remember, the tax code is not immune from structural racism & we need policies that help dismantle injustices. #TaxTwitter🧵

itep.org

Build Back Better’s Tax Provisions Would Help Advance Racial Equity

Build Back Better can help ensure that all people are provided with the chance to lead healthy lives, have access to quality education, are treated fairly and justly, and thrive in today’s economy.

Beyond Education Outcomes

Matt Chingos

@chingos

Jan 27

How equitably distributed are educational resources in your state and district? Look up how access to AP math/science classes, experienced teachers, and guidance counselors varies by race/ethnicity:

apps.urban.org

Where are students given the tools to succeed in school?

Richard C. Auxier

Jan 25

December unemployment rates were below 3% in 11 states: GA, ID, IN, MT, NE, NH, OK, SD, UT, VT, WI. However, the December 2021 rate was higher than the December 2019 rate in 32 states. See

for more state employment data apps.urban.org/features/state

Jan 24

States and localities that funnel revenue from traffic fines and fees to law enforcement and court budgets are creating a conflict of interest that exacerbates racial inequities. Read more in a 50-state deep dive from

and

@livia_mucciolo

tpc.io/33h2xk6

Police in this tiny Alabama town suck drivers into legal ‘black hole’

Brad Heath

@bradheath

Jan 19

Astonishing. Every paragraph of this is astonishing.

al.com

Using unmarked police cars and uniforms without insignia, the town with no traffic lights collected $487 in fines and forfeitures in 2020 for every man, woman and child. Total town income more than...

586

3,840

6,926

Cortney Sanders

@Cort_Sand

Jan 18

MUST READ!!:: If you care about #finesandfees and want to learn more about state and local reliance on them - check this report out! Congratulations

- #justice #fiscalpolicy

Quote Tweet

· Jan 14

[NEW RESEARCH ON FINES & FEES]

@livia_mucciolo & I dived into how speeding ticket revenues are allocated in each state & ten cities. We found in most places, some portion goes back to courts or police funds. [1/6] tpc.io/3tj91cX @urbaninstitute @TaxPolicyCenter

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Alexes Harris

@AlexesHarris

Important work as we need to start understanding more about where the money actually goes to better inform policy! 👇🏽👇🏽

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· Jan 14

[NEW RESEARCH ON FINES & FEES]

Show this thread

MarketWatch

@MarketWatch

Nearly every state uses speeding-ticket fines and fees to fund its justice system

Nearly every state uses speeding-ticket fines and fees to fund its justice system

marketwatch.com

Funding the criminal justice system on fees collected from wrongdoers creates a system of misaligned incentives, researchers and advocates argue.

covered a new 50-state study on the use of revenue from speeding tickets going to criminal justice funds, authored by

and

@livia_mucciolo

. You can read the full article here: bit.ly/3rghkU9

Route Fifty

@routefifty

Traffic Fines Lead to Potential 'Misaligned Fiscal Incentives'

More than 40 states use money generated from speeding tickets for criminal justice and other services, but even minor adjustments to shore up local budgets can hit individuals hard. (Article by

@danvock

)

route-fifty.com

More than 40 states use money generated from speeding tickets for criminal justice and other services, but even minor adjustments to shore up local budgets can hit individuals hard, according to a...

Gratitude for those who added their expertise & time, & those who paved the way:

[6/6]

Big picture: among other important fines & fees reforms, severing link between money coming in & who/what it funds could help states reduce the conflicts of interest & lessen inequities. [5/6]

Following the Money on Fines and Fees

Federal, state, and local government officials are increasingly paying attention to reforms of fines and fees. These constitute a small share of total revenues, but they can be particularly harmful...

Example of allocation of speeding ticket fines & fees below, from SD. Investigating state-by-state legal allocations was complex, some state summaries & conversations made it easier. We extensively document our data & methods in report. [4/6] ujs.sd.gov/uploads/about/

Speeding ticket fees far exceed fines & contribute to vast justice debt. They fund police training, public defenders, court automation, highways, healthcare. Should these programs rely on more speeding tickets to continue operating? A "broken budget model." [3/6]

This is concerning as fiscal considerations influence officers' & judges' discretion in handing out fines & fees; DOJ study of Ferguson, MO an example. Pursuing revenue generation through the justice system undermines public safety & trust and furthers racial inequities. [2/6]

Jan 13

How does each state and DC use the money from speeding tickets and traffic fines? Does it go toward law enforcement and judiciary budgets?

and Livia Mucciolo gathered the data to assess where conflicts of interest may arise. tpc.io/33h2xk6

Beth Osborne

@BethOsborneT4A

Jan 13

It is important to point out that these states require their engineers to build roadways in a way that makes it counterintuitive to go the speed limit. And then they blame you (and fine you) for going the actual design speed of the road.

Quote Tweet

Urban Institute

· Jan 13

.@aravindbodu & Livia Mucciolo: "If you have ever been issued a speeding ticket, you probably grumbled about the government using you as a piggy bank. In our new research report, we found that, in many cases, you were right." urbn.is/3flRZ5E

Map showing allocations of speeding ticket fines or fees revenues

read image description

ALT

& Livia Mucciolo: "If you have ever been issued a speeding ticket, you probably grumbled about the government using you as a piggy bank. In our new research report, we found that, in many cases, you were right." urbn.is/3flRZ5E

read image description

ALT

Tonantzin Libertad Carmona (TLC)

@Tonantzin_LC

Jan 13

Great (new!) report by

and Livia Mucciolo on the misaligned fiscal incentives in speeding tickets - Following the Money on Fines and Fees: tpc.io/3zMgYby via