The Tax Policy Podcast with Fexingo: Income Tax, Corporate Tax, and Fiscal Conversations

Episode 13 of The Tax Policy Podcast dives into the Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) — a 3.8% surtax that affects high-income investors but often catches people off guard. Lucas and Luna break down its origin in the Affordable Care Act, the income thresholds ($200,000 single/$250,000 married), and what counts as 'investment income' versus earned income. They discuss a common scenario: a retired couple selling a home or collecting rental income who accidentally trigger the tax. The hosts also explore how NIIT interacts with the Alternative Minimum Tax and why estate planning sometimes runs into it. The episode ends with a forward-looking question: as investment income grows as a share of national income, will Congress expand or shrink this tax? No fluff — just a clear, conversational guide to one of the most misunderstood taxes in the code. #NetInvestmentIncomeTax #NIIT #AffordableCareAct #MedicareSurtax #PassiveIncome #CapitalGains #TaxPlanning #WealthManagement #RetirementTaxes #RealEstateTax #EstatePlanning #AMT #FiscalPolicy #Economics #TaxPolicyPodcast #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #InvestorEducation Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In this episode of The Tax Policy Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore Tax Increment Financing (TIF), a tool used by cities to subsidize development using future property tax gains. They break down how a TIF district works with a concrete example—a $50 million mixed-use project in a Midwestern city—and examine the trade-offs: Does TIF spur growth or simply shift tax burdens? They discuss a 2025 study showing that only about 30 percent of TIF projects generate net new economic activity, and the rest largely displace development. The hosts also look at who wins and who loses: developers, municipalities, and overlapping taxing bodies like school districts. They consider alternatives like land value tax and community benefits agreements. The episode ties the local tool to broader fiscal policy questions about land use and public investment. A donation segment links listener support to keeping the show ad-free and focused on niche tax topics. #TaxIncrementFinancing #TIF #LocalDevelopment #PropertyTax #EconomicDevelopment #UrbanPolicy #FiscalPolicy #MunicipalFinance #TaxPolicy #LandValueTax #CommunityBenefits #SchoolFunding #PublicInvestment #CommercialRealEstate #Economics #BusinessPodcast #FexingoBusiness #TaxPolicyPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Lucas and Luna break down the complex world of international tax treaties, focusing on how the U.S. uses them to prevent double taxation. They explore a key example: a U.S.-based tech consultant working remotely from Portugal, and how the treaty between the two countries decides which government gets the tax. The hosts explain the 'tiebreaker' rules for residency, the concept of permanent establishment, and how treaties affect digital nomads and multinational corporations. They also discuss recent OECD reforms like the Pillar Two global minimum tax and what it means for treaty effectiveness. If you've ever wondered how countries avoid taxing the same income twice, this episode gives you the framework. #TaxTreaties #DoubleTaxation #InternationalTax #OECD #PillarTwo #GlobalMinimumTax #DigitalNomads #PermanentEstablishment #TaxResidency #USPortugalTreaty #RemoteWork #TaxPolicy #Economics #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #CorporateTax #FiscalPolicy #TaxLaw Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act nearly doubled the standard deduction, which had an unexpected effect on charitable giving in America. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how the number of households itemizing deductions dropped from roughly 30 percent to about 10 percent, and what that meant for donations to nonprofits. They look at the specific data from the American Enterprise Institute and the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, discuss how charities responded by creating donor-advised funds and bunching strategies, and ask whether the charitable deduction still works as a policy tool to encourage giving. Lucas brings in the example of a mid-sized food bank in Ohio that saw its donor base shift from many small givers to fewer large ones. Luna pushes back on whether the deduction is really about incentives or just a subsidy for wealthy donors. This is a focused, numbers-driven conversation about one concrete consequence of the biggest tax reform in a generation. #TaxCutsAndJobsAct #CharitableGiving #StandardDeduction #ItemizedDeductions #DonorAdvisedFunds #TaxPolicy #Nonprofit #Philanthropy #Economics #FiscalPolicy #UrbanBrookings #AmericanEnterpriseInstitute #Bunching #TaxReform #WealthInequality #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #TaxPolicyPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In this episode of The Tax Policy Podcast, Lucas and Luna tackle the carbon tax debate from a fiscal perspective, zeroing in on Canada's federal backstop program as a case study. They explain how a carbon tax works mechanically—who pays, who gets rebated—and why economists across the political spectrum often prefer it to regulations or subsidies. Lucas points to the Canadian example, where households in most provinces receive quarterly 'Climate Action Incentive' payments that, for low-income families, exceed what they pay in direct fuel costs. Luna questions whether the policy is politically sustainable given rising pushback, and they explore the tension between economic efficiency and political viability. The episode ends with a look at the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and what it means for global trade. No jargon, no spin—just the numbers that matter. #CarbonTax #FiscalPolicy #Canada #ClimateActionIncentive #Economics #TaxPolicy #LucasAndLuna #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #TaxReform #CarbonPricing #ClimatePolicy #CarbonBorderAdjustment #EU #CBAM #EconomicEfficiency #RevenueNeutral #Subsidy Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In this episode of The Tax Policy Podcast, Lucas and Luna examine the explosive growth of tax-loss harvesting — a strategy that lets investors offset capital gains by selling losing positions, and how it has ballooned into a massive industry worth over $30 billion in tax benefits annually. They trace its origins from a niche 1970s loophole to its current status as a core feature of robo-advisors like Wealthfront and Betterment, drawing on data from a 2025 SEC study showing that the practice reduces federal revenue by roughly $5 billion a year. The hosts debate whether this is smart tax planning or a distortion of the tax code that primarily benefits the wealthy, and they consider rising calls for reform, including a 2025 proposal from Senator Ron Wyden to cap the deduction at $5,000 per household. Packed with specific numbers and real-world examples, this episode offers a clear window into a tax strategy that quietly shapes millions of portfolios and billions in government revenue. #TaxLossHarvesting #TaxPolicy #Wealthfront #Betterment #SEC #RonWyden #TaxLoophole #CapitalGains #RoboAdvisor #InvestmentStrategy #FiscalPolicy #Economics #Podcast #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #TaxReform #WealthInequality #TaxCode Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In this episode of The Tax Policy Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore the lasting impact of the 1997 Taxpayer Relief Act on today's tax code. They focus on the specific case of capital gains tax rates — how a 28-year-old law created the preference for long-term gains over short-term, and how that structure has shaped investor behavior, housing markets, and even corporate payout policies. Lucas breaks down the original rate cuts — 28% for assets held over 18 months, later reduced to 20% and 15% — and explains how the act also introduced the Roth IRA, the child tax credit, and the Education IRA. Luna pushes back on whether the capital gains preference still makes sense in 2026, given income inequality and the 'carried interest' loophole. They also discuss how the law's structure affects the current debate over a wealth tax and higher corporate rates. A concrete, historical dive into one of the most consequential tax bills of the last three decades. #TaxPolicyPodcast #TaxpayerReliefAct1997 #CapitalGainsTax #LongTermCapitalGains #RothIRA #ChildTaxCredit #EducationIRA #CarriedInterest #WealthTax #TaxReform #InvestorBehavior #HousingMarket #CorporatePayouts #IncomeInequality #Economics #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #TaxHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Episode 6 of The Tax Policy Podcast drills into the 14 percent effective state tax rate gap between the highest- and lowest-tax US states. Lucas and Luna unpack why a tech worker in California pays roughly twice the state income tax of a peer in Texas, how the 2017 SALT cap reshaped migration patterns, and what a 2025 study from the Tax Foundation reveals about taxpayer mobility. They also discuss the quiet convergence of state corporate tax rates and whether the 2026 midterms could bring another round of rate cuts. Specific numbers: California's 13.3 percent top marginal rate versus Florida's zero, the 9.8 percent average corporate rate, and the 19 states that cut income taxes since 2021. No policy jargon—just the actual trade-offs that matter for your paycheck and your business. #StateTax #IncomeTax #SALTCap #TaxFoundation #TaxPolicy #FiscalPolicy #CaliforniaTax #TexasTax #FloridaTax #CorporateTax #TaxMobility #2026Midterms #TaxCuts #TaxConvergence #Economics #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Podcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Lucas and Luna dig into the U.S. estate tax, focusing on the historically high lifetime exemption of $13.61 million per individual set by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which is set to sunset at the end of 2026. They explore how this looming cliff is driving a wave of wealth-transfer planning among high-net-worth families, using the concrete example of a typical family business owner in Ohio. The conversation covers the difference between estate tax and inheritance tax, the revenue impact—only about 0.5 percent of estates pay the tax—and the political uncertainty around extension. Lucas explains the 'portability' rule for spouses, while Luna challenges whether the exemption primarily benefits the ultra-wealthy, citing data from the Joint Committee on Taxation. They close by asking what happens to middle-class estates if the exemption drops to roughly $7 million. A focused look at a tax provision that quietly shapes decisions about family businesses, farms, and generational wealth. #EstateTax #WealthTransfer #TaxCutsAndJobsAct #InheritanceTax #LifetimeExemption #EstatePlanning #FamilyBusiness #GenerationalWealth #FiscalPolicy #TaxPolicy #Economics #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #EconomicsPodcast #TaxPodcast #May2026 #SunsetProvision #JointCommitteeOnTaxation Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Lucas and Luna dig into the child tax credit — the single tax provision that has become America's most contentious fiscal debate. They trace the credit's evolution from a modest 1997 reform to the expanded monthly payments of 2021 and the political stalemate that followed. Lucas explains why the credit's structure — partially refundable, tied to work requirements, phased in — creates dramatically different outcomes for families at different income levels. He walks through the specific cliff effects that mean a single dollar of additional income can cost a family thousands in benefits. Luna pushes back on the idea that this is purely a partisan fight, pointing to research from the Treasury Department and conservative think tanks that shows surprising overlap in goals. The episode lands on a concrete number: roughly 19 million children live in households where the full $2,000-per-child credit phases in too slowly to provide meaningful help, a design choice embedded in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that neither party has fully addressed. A focused conversation on how a single tax decision — whether and how to index the phase-in threshold — quietly shapes the economic lives of millions. #ChildTaxCredit #TaxPolicy #TaxReform #FamilyPolicy #RefundableCredit #TaxCutsAndJobsAct #TreasuryDepartment #FiscalPolicy #WorkingFamilies #TaxEquity #PhaseIn #CliffEffect #TaxCode #Economics #PolicyDebate #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #TheTaxPolicyPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In this episode of The Tax Policy Podcast, Lucas and Luna drill into a single number: the US combined federal and state corporate tax rate of 25.8 percent as of May 2026. They compare it to the OECD average, explain why Ireland's 12.5 percent rate is less relevant than its effective rate on tech giants, and walk through how the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act shifted the US from the highest corporate rate in the developed world to roughly the middle of the pack. Luna challenges whether the statutory rate even matters when loopholes and credits drive effective rates much lower — for example, how profitable US companies paid an average effective rate of just 10.7 percent between 2018 and 2023. Lucas brings in the OECD's global minimum tax of 15 percent, the political dynamics of the 2025 tax debate, and why a 25.8 percent headline number doesn't tell you who actually pays. The conversation stays grounded in a single case: the semiconductor industry, where federal CHIPS Act credits have pushed effective rates for some manufacturers below 5 percent. A concrete, numbers-first episode for anyone who wants to understand where the US actually stands on corporate taxation right now. #CorporateTax #TaxPolicy #OECD #GlobalMinimumTax #PillarTwo #UsTaxRate #IrelandTax #EffectiveTaxRate #TaxCutsAndJobsAct #CHIPSAct #Semiconductors #TaxCompetition #Economics #Business #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #TaxPolicyPodcast #LucasAndLuna Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Lucas and Luna break down Section 163(j) of the tax code, a 1954 rule that limits how much interest corporations can deduct. They trace its origins — why Congress originally capped interest deductions after a wave of corporate takeovers — and examine how it plays out in 2026. With corporate debt at roughly $13 trillion and the Federal Reserve holding rates higher than the 2010s, the interest deduction limit is binding on more companies than ever. They use the 2023 Bed Bath & Beyond bankruptcy as a concrete example: its interest coverage ratio fell below the threshold, accelerating its collapse. Lucas argues that the rule, originally designed to curb excessive leverage, now acts as a hidden stabilizer in a high-rate economy. Luna pushes back on whether it also suppresses productive borrowing. They discuss how the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act tightened the rule in 2018 and why some business groups are lobbying for looser limits. A specific, numbers-driven conversation about a dry-sounding provision with real economic stakes. #TaxPolicy #Economics #CorporateTax #Section163j #InterestDeduction #CorporateDebt #Leverage #TaxCutsAndJobsAct #BedBathAndBeyond #Bankruptcy #FederalReserve #InterestRates #BusinessPodcast #FexingoBusiness #FiscalPolicy #DebtMarkets #TaxReform #EarningsStripping Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In the first episode of The Tax Policy Podcast with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna anchor the conversation around a deceptively simple number: the 21% US corporate tax rate. They trace its origin to the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, unpack the political and economic debates it has sparked, and compare it to global averages. Specific examples include how the rate influenced Apple's decision to repatriate hundreds of billions of dollars and how it shapes current congressional negotiations. The hosts also explore the gap between statutory and effective tax rates, using Disney and Amazon as contrasting case studies. Lucas and Luna establish a tone of thoughtful, evidence-based analysis, promising listeners a show that drills into the mechanics of tax policy without partisan noise. #CorporateTax #TaxCutsAndJobsAct #Apple #Disney #Amazon #EffectiveTaxRate #GlobalTaxCompetition #FiscalPolicy #TCJA #Congress #TaxReform #Economics #Business #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #TaxPolicy #Repatriation #GDP Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo