In case you missed them last week: The Brookings Institution hosted an online event exploring the future of public tax preparation and how might it change given the arrival of Direct File. TPC’s Vanessa Williamson moderated the discussion, which featured TPC’s Janet Holtzblatt, UC-Davis’ Dennis Ventry, and the Associated Press’ Treasury reporter Fatima Hussein. In a House Ways & Means Committee hearing on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) noted new analysis by TPC’s Steve Rosenthal and Livia Mucciolo on the shrinking shareholder tax base. 

IRS denies error in disallowing Hilton estate’s $2.9 billion charitable deduction donation. TaxNotes reports on the case (paywall) of the estate of William Baron Hilton, son of hotel magnate Conrad N. Hilton who founded the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. Conrad Hilton left his residual estate to that foundation. William Baron Hilton left $2.9 billion to the foundation, but the IRS says that the money cannot be considered a charitable contribution deduction. The Hilton estate continues to make its case in Tax Court. 

So far, most EV buyers are choosing an advance payment of their federal tax credit. The Inflation Reduction Act allows a $7,500 tax credit for new or used electric vehicle (EV) purchases to be awarded as un upfront discount—or advance payment of the credit—for buyers. About 90 percent of qualifying EV consumers have chosen an advance payment since the option became available Jan. 1, according to the Treasury Department. Car dealers have filed about 100,000 time-of-sale reports for qualified EV consumers to the IRS since Jan. 1.

In Maine, lawmakers support higher tax brackets for wealthier residents. Maine’s House and Senate each approved a bill that would reduce state income taxes for low- and middle-wage workers and increase taxes on those who earn more than $500,000 a year. The bill would increase state revenues by $570,000 next year. The bill still faces a final vote in the Senate before landing on Gov. Janet Mills's desk. It is not clear whether she will sign or veto the bill.

For the latest tax news, subscribe to the Tax Policy Center’s Daily Deduction. Sign up here to have it delivered to your inbox weekdays at 8:00 am (Mondays only when Congress is in recess). We welcome tips on new research or other news. Email Renu Zaretsky at [email protected].