All posts tagged: tax

The Broadway Tax Credit Has Returned, For Now

The Broadway Tax Credit Has Returned, For Now

The Broadway tax credit has returned after running out of funds late last year.  As part of the recently passed New York state budget, Gov. Kathy Hochul allocated an additional $150 million for the tax credit program, which started in 2021 and had been doling out about $100 million to Broadway and Off-Broadway productions annually. The $150 million covers productions that had their first paid performance starting Dec. 1, retroactively covering those who may have missed out on the tax credit during the funding gap, as well as those with first public performances through the rest of the year. This is good news as many productions had already built the tax credit, of up to $3 million per Broadway production, into their budgets. And producers say it’s become an important talking point when convincing investors to put money into a show, as it allows commercial productions to subsidize 25 percent of their production costs and provides an easier path to recoupment.  The Broadway League, the trade association for Broadway producers and general managers, had been …

US cites forced labour concerns as grounds for new tariffs | Trade War News

US cites forced labour concerns as grounds for new tariffs | Trade War News

The administration of US President Donald Trump has proposed new tariffs of up to 12.5 percent on imports from 60 economies after determining they had failed to curb trade in goods made with forced labour, an assertion that was rejected by US trading partners. The proposal from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), issued late on Tuesday, comes from a Section 301 unfair trade practices investigation designed to help rebuild US President Donald Trump’s emergency tariffs, struck down by a US Supreme Court decision in February. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list Despite laws banning them, the products of forced labour are deeply embedded in supply chains across the world. European lawmakers bristle at the accusation that the region is less effective than the US at curbing the trade in such goods, with one describing the US findings as “utterly absurd”. Business leaders said the US move created more confusion for companies. The USTR proposed 10 percent additional duties on imports from Canada, Ecuador, the European Union, Indonesia, Mexico, Pakistan, …

Bessent is performing IRS commissioner duties amid Trump IRS tax scrutiny

Bessent is performing IRS commissioner duties amid Trump IRS tax scrutiny

Scott Bessent, US treasury secretary, during a Senate Finance Committee hearing in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026. Eric Lee | Bloomberg | Getty Images Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday that he is “performing the duties” of Internal Revenue Service commissioner, even as he insisted he is not the agency’s acting commissioner, during a heated Senate exchange over President Donald Trump settlement with the IRS. Bessent, who had been the acting IRS commissioner since August, took over the commissioner duties in a little-noticed move two and a half months ago, the agency said in a post on its website March 13. The IRS said Bessent’s time as acting commissioner had “expired” but that he “retains the authority and responsibility to perform the functions and duties of vacant Treasury offices that are not filled on an acting basis.” The distinction became central during questioning at a Senate Finance Commitee hearing from Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev. She pressed Bessent over his current authority at the tax agency and whether hundreds of thousands of …

The House | The Tourist Tax Is Coming – But How Will It Work? And Who Is Fighting It?

The House | The Tourist Tax Is Coming – But How Will It Work? And Who Is Fighting It?

Illustration by Tracy Worrall 10 min read1 hr An overnight visitor levy is coming to England – but what will it look like? And will it be resisted? Noah Vickers reports Take a flight to Rome, Lisbon or Amsterdam, check into your hotel and you’ll see it: a charge at the bottom of your bill. It might be called a city tax, an overnight levy or a tourist charge, but it means the same thing – a few extra euros you’ll have to pay up. For a long time, the UK has been an outlier in Europe by not having tourist taxes, but that is starting to change. In July, Edinburgh will introduce a five per cent charge on overnight stays, followed by other Scottish cities setting their own rates in 2027. That same year, councils across Wales will be free to impose levies of £1.30 per person per night, reduced to 75p for hostels and campsites. Throughout its first year in office, the Labour government in Westminster was clear: England …

Trump gets tax protection, but DOJ fund is dead: Blanche

Trump gets tax protection, but DOJ fund is dead: Blanche

The Department of Justice has permanently abandoned plans for a $1.8 billion anti-weaponization compensation fund created to settle a lawsuit by President Donald Trump against the Internal Revenue Service, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche testified to a House panel on Tuesday. But Trump, his family members and related business entities remain protected from tax audits and enforcement actions in connection with tax returns filed before last month’s out-of-court settlement of his lawsuit, Blanche told the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies. Blanche, who previously served as Trump’s criminal defense attorney, personally signed off on the DOJ’s May 19 addendum to the settlement of the lawsuit that gave Trump and his family that protection, a day after the deal was announced. The addendum also bars the DOJ from prosecuting Trump and the others for cases that would be based on “Lawfare and/or Weaponization,” without defining what those terms mean or what alleged conduct by the targets could entail. “We are not moving forward with the fund, period,” Blanche told Rep. Grace Meng, …

Illinois budget bill targets sports prediction markets with unique transaction tax

Illinois budget bill targets sports prediction markets with unique transaction tax

Illinois lawmakers have signed off on a budget measure that would create what appears to be the first state tax aimed specifically at sports event contracts traded through prediction markets. The provision was included in the wider revenue package contained in Senate Bill 3019, which cleared both chambers on June 1. Under the legislation, “any wagers offered under this Act shall be subject to incur a transaction tax equal to 1.75% of each exchange wager.” The bill also establishes a higher rate for operators with significant activity. After a licensee reaches five million exchange wagers during a fiscal year, the transaction tax imposed under this subsection shall increase to 3.5% of each exchange wager. Rather than taxing operator revenue, the proposal is built around transaction volume. Revenue generated by the tax would flow into the Sports Wagering Fund before ultimately being transferred to the state’s General Revenue Fund. The legislation states that the tax “shall be deposited monthly into the Sports Wagering Fund” and outlines the transfer process for certified amounts. Analysis circulated by Fairplaygov …

2026 L.A. County voter guide: Judges, healthcare tax, sheriff

2026 L.A. County voter guide: Judges, healthcare tax, sheriff

With long ballots, you can excuse voters for knowing more about some races than others. This is especially true this year, with such heated races for California governor and Los Angeles mayor. But even some of those down-ballot choices can have major ramifications. We have selected three to explore that have not received the spotlight. 1. Judges One of the more challenging decisions for voters is L.A. Superior Court judge. In this election, 15 races are on the ballot and 11 are competitive. So what do Superior Court judges handle? The Judicial Branch of California provided this breakdown: All civil cases (family law, probate, juvenile and other civil cases) All criminal cases (felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions like traffic tickets) Small claims cases and appeals of small claims cases Appeals of civil cases involving $35,000 or less Appeals of infraction (like traffic) and misdemeanor cases Source: California Courts Self-Help Guide The Times researched the races and here is our guide: 2. Healthcare Healthcare is a vexing issue in L.A. County, The half-cent sales tax on the …

We could all learn from Australia’s brewing movement to tax gas

We could all learn from Australia’s brewing movement to tax gas

During a global moment where oil prices are spiking tremendously, a movement to increase gas taxes is brewing in Australia. And if it does succeed, it could provide a template that could help other countries not only fund their own prosperity, but reduce the tremendous damage done by fossil fuels. At issue are Australia’s exports of petroleum gas, largely in the form of liquified methane. While Australia is a generally wealthy nation, its economy is less complex than many other advanced nations, and relies heavily on extraction of natural resources. Australia’s export value is concentrated in raw material exports, rather than complex manufacturing. Much of Australia’s wealth comes from mining, but as you can see on the charts below, petroleum products make up a big chunk as well. Australia is in fact the third-largest global exporter of petroleum gas behind US and Norway, and its exports mainly go to Japan, China, and Southeast Asian countries. Advertisement – scroll for more content USA,Norway, and Australia’s exports. Blue/pink/purple colors are more complex products like machines, medicine and …

Kanzlertausch und der Herbst der Entscheidung. Mit Veit Medick – POLITICO

Kanzlertausch und der Herbst der Entscheidung. Mit Veit Medick – POLITICO

Nach einer Woche voller Spekulationen über einen vorzeitigen Kanzlertausch und scharfen Reaktionen aus dem Merz-Umfeld rekapituliert Gordon Repinski die Lage mit Veit Medick, Politikchef des Stern und Host des Podcast “5 Minuten-Talk”. Gemeinsam analysieren die beiden die subtile Entfremdung innerhalb der Union , Friedrich Merz’ Hang zur impulsiven Überdramatisierung und die verheerenden handwerklichen Fehler der letzten Monate wie das jüngste Prämie-Fiasko im Bundesrat. Im Zentrum der Diskussion steht der mögliche Schicksalstag für Merz: der 6. September. Sollte die CDU die Landtagswahl in Sachsen-Anhalt krachend an die AfD verlieren, droht ein politisches Erdbeben, das Hendrik Wüst als personifiziertes Stabilitätsversprechen in Stellung bringen könnte. Das Berlin Playbook als Podcast gibt es jeden Morgen ab 5 Uhr. Gordon Repinski und das POLITICO-Team liefern Politik zum Hören – kompakt, international, hintergründig. Für alle Hauptstadt-Profis: Der Berlin Playbook-Newsletter bietet jeden Morgen die wichtigsten Themen und Einordnungen. ⁠Jetzt kostenlos abonnieren.⁠ Mehr von Host und POLITICO Executive Editor Gordon Repinski: Instagram: ⁠@gordon.repinski⁠ | X: ⁠@GordonRepinski⁠. POLITICO Deutschland – ein Angebot der Axel Springer Deutschland GmbH Axel-Springer-Straße 65, 10888 Berlin Tel: +49 (30) …

Judge launches inquiry into Trump-IRS settlement that led to ‘anti-weaponization’ fund – POLITICO

Judge launches inquiry into Trump-IRS settlement that led to ‘anti-weaponization’ fund – POLITICO

Earlier this year, Trump filed a $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS over the leak of his tax returns by a private contractor in 2019 and 2020. The lawsuit immediately triggered questions about conflicts of interest: How could the Justice Department and IRS now controlled by Trump appointees defend against a lawsuit brought by their boss? But before the lawsuit advanced, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche revealed that a settlement had been reached. Instead of a payout to Trump, the settlement would result in the establishment of the nearly $1.8 billion fund to make payouts to people described in the settlement as victims of government weaponization. The announcement generated particular excitement among hundreds of people Trump pardoned for their roles in storming the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, with many announcing their intention to pursue payouts. Police officers who defended the Capitol and former Justice Department prosecutors who pursued Jan. 6 defendants sued to block the fund altogether, with another judge earlier Friday ordering a two-week pause on its establishment. A spokesperson for Trump’s legal team did not immediately …