The hottest Taxation Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Business Topics

Wealthy, Elite Universities Like Harvard Taxed You $45 Billion In Last Five Years

OpenTheBooks Substack • 241 implied HN points • 15 Nov 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Taxation
  1. Wealthy universities like Harvard received $45 billion in federal payments, tax breaks, and subsidies over the last five years.
  2. Top universities prioritized securing federal contracts and grants over student tuition, with $33 billion flowing to them annually.
  3. Elite universities also benefited from special tax treatment benefits on endowment gains and additional government subsidies.

Best of Economic Forces: 2025 Edition

Economic Forces • 4 implied HN points • 26 Dec 25
💰 Finance Taxation
  1. Tariffs and trade policy were a major theme, with historical context and ongoing policy developments analyzed and questioned.
  2. Core economic ideas like price theory and GDP measurement were emphasized and defended against political distortion.
  3. Readers favored a mix of clear, accessible pieces: explanations of academic news, practical teaching advice, and policy deep-dives on topics like land taxes and dollar dominance.

Inside Pandora's Box

Diane Francis • 279 implied HN points • 11 Oct 21
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Taxation
  1. The Pandora Papers show a large amount of hidden money and tax evasion linked to powerful people around the world.
  2. Investigative journalists worked hard to sort through millions of documents to uncover this information.
  3. This data leak highlights how corruption and financial wrongdoing can involve politicians, dictators, and other famous figures.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Adapting Land Value Taxation to Space

Splitting Infinity • 39 implied HN points • 17 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Taxation
  1. Taxation is essential for governance and must be adapted for effective government in space as the celestial realm sees more activities and developments.
  2. Principles of taxation like efficiency, sufficient revenue, practicality, tolerance, clarity, and locality should guide the design of tax systems in space to ensure fairness and viability.
  3. Georgism, with its focus on land value taxes, can offer a balanced solution for taxation in space by encouraging development while discouraging rent-seeking behaviors.

Things every founder should know about "founder's stock" and QSBS

Nathan’s Substack • 39 implied HN points • 03 Sep 23
💼 Business Taxation
  1. When starting a tech company, it's almost necessary to be a Delaware C-corp for investor funding, with significant advantages such as no corporate income tax and efficient legal processes.
  2. Founders stock refers to shares purchased by founders at formation for a very low value that brings tax benefits like immediate tax payments with the 83(b) election and quicker QSBS clock start.
  3. Understanding tax provisions like QSBS can lead to significant advantages for entrepreneurs, with strategies like 1045 exchanges and investing in Qualified Opportunity Zones to maximize gains and minimize taxes.

Why the postwar prosperity was not atypical

America in Crisis • 19 implied HN points • 03 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Taxation
  1. Real wages for working class people grew slower after the 1970s due to economic policies, like tax cuts, since the Reagan administration.
  2. The post-war US economic success wasn't solely due to lack of foreign competition; trade only increased after mid-1960s tariff reductions.
  3. Shift away from high-productivity manufacturing jobs doesn't explain wage stagnation; the decrease in share of income going to working class started around 1980.

Less-than-Universal Basic Income

Hypertext • 19 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Taxation
  1. Universal Basic Income (UBI) has gained popularity, but its implementation faces challenges in terms of cost and fairness.
  2. Alternative approaches like a permanent expansion of the Child Tax Credit offer a more feasible path for large-scale cash transfers.
  3. Expanding the Child Tax Credit could address concerns about cost and fairness while still providing significant support to families in need.

Getting Tax Burden Wrong

David Friedman’s Substack • 152 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Taxation
  1. Who bears the burden of a tax depends on the effect of the tax on the transaction terms, not just who hands over the money.
  2. Excess burden of taxes includes costs incurred by individuals that nobody receives, even if the government doesn't collect the tax.
  3. Smith's view on taxation aims for incidence of tax burden proportional to income, not necessarily flat rate income tax.

MMTers Love When Governments Burn Money

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 14 implied HN points • 29 Jul 25
💰 Finance Taxation
  1. Historically, some governments have burned money they received in taxes instead of spending it. This shows a different approach to managing currency and taxes.
  2. Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) suggests that the way governments handle money matters differently than traditional views, claiming that taxes serve to create demand for fiat currencies.
  3. However, there are criticisms of MMT, particularly regarding its historical accuracy about how money is created and the role of taxes, suggesting that it may misinterpret past events.

Fifty years of putting off the inevitable

Comment is Freed • 102 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
💰 Finance Taxation
  1. Jeremy Hunt may announce a tax cut that is not financially sustainable and could be misleading.
  2. The UK's tax burden is lower compared to other countries, partly due to lower spending on social programs.
  3. The UK's low tax burden is also a result of reduced spending on working age benefits, uniquely high housing benefit expenditure, and underinvestment in infrastructure.

Abolish the SALT Deduction

California Thoughts • 19 implied HN points • 12 Feb 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Taxation
  1. Repealing or increasing the cap on the SALT deduction would benefit the richest Americans and increase inequality.
  2. Factors like housing costs influence migration more than taxes, so removing the SALT deduction cap may not lead to as much migration as expected.
  3. It is suggested to abolish the SALT deduction and most other itemized deductions to prioritize spending on anti-poverty measures.

Instead of targeting welfare, charge after-the-fact

Splitting Infinity • 19 implied HN points • 18 Sep 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Taxation
  1. Consider charging people for welfare aid after they have received it, managed by the IRS on tax day. This could streamline the process and save on administrative costs.
  2. Using the IRS to handle welfare targeting can provide a more cost-effective and efficient way to assist those in need, by utilizing existing data and payment systems.
  3. Implementing a retroactive welfare eligibility system could help quicken aid distribution and potentially increase tax revenue, while also maintaining accountability and transparency.

Free Money

The Odin Times • 19 implied HN points • 18 Jun 23
💼 Business Taxation
  1. SEIS and EIS schemes in the UK offer tax relief for investing in startups, making government schemes ideal for angel investors.
  2. Investors can get up to 50% of their investment back as tax relief, and pay no capital gains tax on profits, de-risking the investment.
  3. SEIS and EIS have driven growth in the UK startup ecosystem and helped make the UK an attractive country for angel investors.

A Pro-Speculator Property Tax Policy from Some in Detroit City Council

The Chargeback • 19 implied HN points • 10 Oct 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Taxation
  1. Some members of the Detroit City Council are proposing a property tax policy that could benefit outside property speculators.
  2. Eliminating all property taxes could give non-residents an advantage over Detroit residents in property ownership.
  3. Supporting property tax relief for low-income homeowners could be a better solution than empowering speculators.

How inequality reduction happened 80 years ago

America in Crisis • 19 implied HN points • 03 Aug 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Taxation
  1. Inequality reduction 80 years ago was achieved through a combination of high marginal tax rates, pro-labor policies, and strong economic stimulus.
  2. The handling of economic crises by political elites and the choice of policies played a significant role in resolving the issues without internal conflict.
  3. The alignment of political parties and the evolution of party composition have an impact on the feasibility of implementing policies to address inequality and economic instability.

Where does all the money go?

Comment is Freed • 90 implied HN points • 28 Sep 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Taxation
  1. The Prime Minister is making decisions without proper advice, resulting in incoherent strategies.
  2. The government is focusing on saving money rather than making new policy announcements due to financial constraints.
  3. A series of posts will break down government spending, income, and options for a new Chancellor.

In Defense of the Rich

We're Gonna Get Those Bastards • 8 implied HN points • 28 Jun 25
💰 Finance Taxation
  1. Rich people often help others in times of need, like when a wealthy community came together to support a firefighter's sick child. This shows that they can be caring and generous.
  2. The wealthy contribute significantly to the economy and taxes, often funding essential services and cultural institutions. They create jobs and help maintain public resources.
  3. Even though some rich individuals might be perceived as out of touch, they face their own unique challenges and stresses, making their lives not as easy as they might seem.

OSD 232: The gun control Laffer curve

Open Source Defense • 73 implied HN points • 31 Jul 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Taxation
  1. The Laffer curve shows that increasing tax rates may eventually lead to decreased tax revenue.
  2. Gun control groups face challenges in achieving their goals due to individual incentives conflicting with group objectives.
  3. Individuals acting in their own self-interest can hinder the overall effectiveness of a movement.

Investing Update: Is Mag 7 Leadership Returning?

Spilled Coffee • 20 implied HN points • 26 Oct 24
💰 Finance Taxation
  1. The stock market is having a strong run, especially the Nasdaq, which has been up for seven weeks in a row. The Dow and S&P 500 ended their winning streak after six weeks.
  2. Investors seem confident, adding a lot of money to stocks recently, even with the upcoming elections. Earnings from major companies will be more relevant to the market than the election results.
  3. Expect some market ups and downs as the election approaches, but focusing on earnings reports will be more important for making investment decisions.

Tax and Regulatory Breaks for Startups

Japan Economy Watch • 19 implied HN points • 06 Dec 22
💼 Business Taxation
  1. LLCs in the US and many OECD countries allow profits to pass through to owners without double taxation, promoting new firm creation and growth.
  2. Open Innovation Tax Incentive aims to encourage large corporations to invest in startups, but its effectiveness and expansion remain uncertain.
  3. Five-Year Plan proposes measures to simplify stock options for employees in Japanese startups, but their success is yet to be determined.

Was the Continental Dollar an Early Failure with Fiat Money?

Economic Forces • 4 implied HN points • 26 Jun 25
💰 Finance Taxation
  1. The Continental dollar was created to fund the Revolutionary War, but it lost value quickly. This happened because there were too many of them and not enough trust in their worth.
  2. The currency was designed like a bond, meaning it wasn't just regular money meant for buying things, but more like an IOU that was supposed to be repaid later.
  3. The failure of the Continental dollar teaches us that for any money system to work, people need to believe in its value and the promise to redeem it; if that trust is lost, the money collapses.

IRS officially launches Direct File pilot

philsiarri • 22 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Taxation
  1. The IRS has launched the Direct File pilot program in 12 U.S. states, allowing eligible taxpayers to file their tax returns online for free.
  2. The Direct File program aims to simplify the filing process for taxpayers with straightforward tax situations and offers live chat support.
  3. Taxpayers can verify their identity through ID.me and use the Direct File service securely, positioning it as a free alternative to paid online services like TurboTax.

Inflation is Bad, Actually

Economic Forces • 7 implied HN points • 30 Jan 25
💰 Finance Taxation
  1. Some people think inflation is good because it helps prevent deflation, but this argument is weak. Deflation can be harmful mainly when caused by poor policies, not just by falling prices.
  2. Inflation is often compared to a hidden tax because it decreases the value of money. Unlike regular taxes, people might not realize their purchasing power is being reduced until they feel the effects.
  3. Overall, inflation can create confusion and make economic decisions harder. It undermines the value of money as a reference point, leading to more mistakes and inefficiencies in both personal and business finances.

Understanding startup stock options: Part 1

Brick by Brick • 18 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
💰 Finance Taxation
  1. Stock options are a key part of startup employee compensation, involving vesting schedules and the opportunity to buy company shares at a set price.
  2. 409A valuations determine the fair market value of a company's stock, influencing employee stock option prices and taxation.
  3. The 90-day window after leaving a company requires employees to decide whether to exercise their vested stock options or lose them, potentially facing significant financial implications.

Six Figures Ain't What it Used to Be

The Fat Software Engineer • 30 implied HN points • 24 May 23
💰 Finance Taxation
  1. If you aim for wealth, you need to aim higher than just six figures.
  2. The cost of living has gone up significantly, making a six-figure salary less impactful.
  3. Tax bands are frozen, stealthily increasing taxes, but there's hope with predicted drops in interest rates and energy costs.

US fiscal folly could create big, beautiful debt spiral

Klement on Investing • 2 implied HN points • 04 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Taxation
  1. The new US tax and spending bill will increase the country's deficit by over $3 trillion in the next ten years. This could lead to serious long-term financial issues.
  2. Continuing on the current debt path might spiral into a situation that threatens the independence of the Federal Reserve.
  3. The Congressional Budget Office's debt projections might actually be underestimating the impact of the new spending bill on US debt compared to GDP.

Tax Protest

The False Consensus Effect • 19 implied HN points • 26 Mar 21
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Taxation
  1. Political ideologies of left and right are outdated and do not effectively address contemporary issues.
  2. There is a lack of awareness and action regarding the ban on nuclear weapons and the implications of funding for such weapons.
  3. The need for collective responsibility and individual liberty to address political issues, like federal tax protests and the funding of nuclear weapons.

March 1, 2024

Letters from an American • 10 implied HN points • 02 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Taxation
  1. President Joe Biden signed a resolution giving lawmakers more time to finalize government funding bills, as Republicans have been stalling by inserting cultural demands and seeking budget cuts.
  2. There are discussions about creating a 'debt commission' to address the budget deficit, even though it faces opposition from 70% of voters.
  3. The ITEP report revealed that many profitable corporations paid very low effective tax rates due to loopholes, raising questions about the fairness of the tax system.