Continuing resolution would freeze what remains of IRS enforcement funds. House Republicans, in the seven-week stopgap funding bill released Sept. 16, would freeze $20.2 billion of IRS enforcement funds from the Inflation Reduction Act. But after prior clawbacks and spending, only $300 million, at most, may be left to freeze. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that last year’s clawback of $20.2 billion would raise the deficit by about $45.6 billion over ten years due to reduced enforcement revenue.
Senate bill would trim IRS operations support. A Senate Appropriations Committee bill, advanced in July, would rescind $11.7 billion from the IRS’s Inflation Reduction Act operations support, which originally totaled $25.3 billion over ten years; the IRS has spent $6.4 billion, leaving $7.2 billion if the cut is enacted. The provision appears in the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies bill rather than the usual Financial Services bill, a placement identified this week by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.
Ending enhanced PTCs could leave 4.8 million more people uninsured in 2026. A new Urban Institute analysis finds that if enhanced premium tax credits (PTCs) expire after 2025, subsidized Marketplace enrollment would fall by 7.3 million and the uninsured population would increase by 4.8 million in 2026—about a 21 percent rise—relative to extending the enhanced credits; average net premiums would climb substantially across income ranges.
Reaching rural Maryland taxpayers may require trust-building and in-person help. Using research conducted in partnership with the Comptroller of Maryland, TPC highlights how rural residents face distinct barriers to claiming credits like the earned income tax credit (EITC), including limited access to trusted information, fewer free tax preparation options since the pandemic, transportation challenges, and a preference for familiar paid preparers. Researchers highlight strategies such as partnering with faith and community organizations, using physical mail, and creating service hubs.
Task force recommends menu of tax hikes and cuts to close Chicago’s $1 billion gap. A city task force created by Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) recommended nearly 90 cost-saving and revenue-generating ideas to address a projected $1.15 billion budget gap in 2026. Suggestions include tying property tax increases to inflation, raising liquor taxes, extending a hiring freeze, and increasing garbage and rideshare fees. The group estimates the options could raise between $1 billion and $2.1 billion, though some would require state approval. Johnson will present his 2026 budget in mid-October.
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