A platform for accessing open-source tax models.

Start Exploring

About TaxBrain

TaxBrain is an interface to open source economic models for tax policy analysis. The code for the TaxBrain webapp interface is itself open source.

  • Step 1. Create a policy reform by modifying tax law parameters such as rates and deductions, adjust the economic baseline, and request the static result. You can do so with the graphical user interface below or by uploading a policy reform file from this page.
  • Step 2. Review your static output carefully. Ask questions.
  • Step 3. Choose a dynamic modeling approach. Because different approaches generally lead to different estimates, you may want to compare several approaches.
  • Step 4. Adjust economic assumptions and request the dynamic analysis.
  • Step 5. Review your dynamic output carefully. Ask questions.
  • Step 6. Share your results! The link to every results page is static and will never change. Send them around.

Throughout this process, if you have a question about how to use TaxBrain or interpret the results, if you want to make a suggestion for making the interface or underlying models better, or if you discover a bug, please send a message to our mailing list, which you can join at list.ospc.org/mailman/listinfo/users_list.ospc.org.

Disclaimer

Proper use of this tool and description of that use is ultimately your responsibility. If you plan on publishing your results, I highly recommend that you confirm with the community that you are using the tools properly and interpreting the results correctly before you publish them. If you have a compelling reason not to leave a public note on the mailing list, email me at matt.jensen@aei.org.

Results will change as the underlying models improve. A fundamental reason for adopting open source methods in this project is to let people from all backgrounds contribute to the models that our society uses to assess economic policy; when community-contributed improvements are incorporated, the models will produce different results.

Neither the Open Source Policy Center nor the American Enterprise Institute maintain institutional positions, and the results from models accessible via the TaxBrain interface should not be attributed directly to OSPC or AEI. A suggested acknowledgement is, "We thank AEI for making TaxBrain available, but we bear sole responsibility for the use of the models and any conclusions drawn."

- Matt Jensen, managing director and founder of the Open Source Policy Center

Static modeling (Step 1)

Static tax analysis entails computing individuals' tax changes under the assumption that behavior does not change in response to tax policy. Static analyses are useful for understanding the mechanistic effects of tax policy changes, and they form the basis to which behavior is applied for dynamic analyses.

TaxBrain's static modeling capabilities rely on several open source economic models and other packages:

Transparency and Replicability

In addition to relying on open source models, we are devoted to making it easy for reviewers to understand the models even if they can't understand the source code or don't have access to the underlying data. Toward that end we produce several additional reports to enhance transparency, peer review, collaboration and a scientific advancement.

Note that these reports currently rely on the latest versions of tax-calculator and TaxData, which might not correspond perfectly to TaxBrain.

Accuracy notes

The Python code that performs the tax calculations has been validated in a number of ways. First, Tax-Calculator results for a number of tax filing units have been compared to hand calculations performed using IRS tax forms. Second, Tax-Calculator results for a large sample of tax filing units have been compared to results for the same sample generated by a detailed SAS program developed by Dan Feenberg and Ina Shapiro of NBER. Third, a subset of input variables has been used to compare the results of Tax-Calculator to Internet TAXSIM as well as against the Policy Simulation Group's PENSIM tax module

Bugs aside, the results from TaxBrain might differ in comparison to those produced by Congress or the Administration for other reasons. Modeling requires many assumptions, and neither Congress nor the executive branch publicize all of their assumptions. For example, the distribution of wages in TaxData is assumed to stay the same in real terms for all years after the last year we have available data (2013). We know that Congress assumes this distribution changes over time, but it doesn't publish by how much. These assumptions are all flexible in TaxData, so please conduct sensitivity analyses. Other assumptions can be made flexible in TaxBrain based on user requests.

Core Maintainers (static modeling):

These members have "write access" to one or both of the core static modeling repositories, Tax-Calculator and TaxData, and work as a team to determine which open source contributions are accepted.

PolicyBrain Code Build

Version 1.8.0 - GitHub

Tax-Calculator Code Build

Version 0.24.0 - GitHub

Show me the results!

Get Started

User tips

  • By default, the policy parameter boxes contain Start Year values. You can change the Start Year of the analysis in the upper left.
  • Toggle the CPI control to indicate whether a parameter should be adjusted for inflation.
  • Enter comma-separated values into a field to indicate the multiple years of tax law. DO NOT use commas as thousands separators.
  • Express rates as decimals.
  • You can represent a value that would otherwise manifest itself in a year with the * operator. So, for example, if you enter 0.1, *, 0.2 in a tax rate field, the rate will be 10 percent in the Start Year, 10 percent a year after the Start Year, and 20 percent two years after the Start Year and forward. If you enter 100, *, 200 in a CPI-indexed field for a credit amount, the credit will be $100 in the Start Year, $100*(1+CPI) the next year, and $200 the following year.
  • You may specify a parameter change in the year before the Start Year with the < operator. For example, if you set the Start Year as 2018 and a Parameter Indexing Offset parameter to <,-0.0025,-0.001 then this sets the Offset to -0.0025 in 2017 and -0.001 in 2018.
  • Read the Docs
  • Leave Feedback

Datasets

TaxBrain now offers users two data options: CPS and PUF. Both datasets contain tax unit level data, but they do not have all of the same variables. As a result, you will not be able to change some policy parameters, depending on which dataset you choose. A more detailed breakdown of the differences between the file can be found here. The CPS-based file is still young relative to the PUF-based file, and we would appreciate your feedback as it matures.

Presets: key provisions from newsworthy proposals

  • The policy parameter presets are under review given the change in baseline parameters caused by the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA).
You are looking at default parameters for 2017.

Parameter Indexing

Offsets

Default: -0.0025

Payroll Taxes

Social Security FICA

Default: 0.124
Default: True
Default: 127200.0

Medicare FICA

Default: 0.029

Additional Medicare FICA

Default: True
Default: 200000.0
Default: 250000.0
Default: 125000.0
Default: 200000.0
Default: 0.009

Social Security Taxability

Threshold For Social Security Benefit Taxability 1

Default: True
Default: 25000.0
Default: 32000.0
Default: 25000.0
Default: 25000.0

Threshold For Social Security Benefit Taxability 2

Default: True
Default: 34000.0
Default: 44000.0
Default: 34000.0
Default: 34000.0

Above The Line Deductions

Misc. Adjustment Haircuts

Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 1.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0

Misc. Exclusions

Default: 0.0
Default: False
Default: True
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99

Child And Elderly Care

Default: 0.0
Default: True
Default: 0.0
Default: True
Default: 0.0
Default: True
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0

Personal Exemptions

Personal And Dependent Exemption Amount

Default: True
Default: 4050.0

Personal Exemption Phaseout Rate

Default: 0.02

Repeal for Dependents Under Age 18

Default: False

Standard Deduction

Standard Deduction Amount

Default: True
Default: 6350.0
Default: 12700.0
Default: 6350.0
Default: 9350.0

Additional Standard Deduction For Blind And Aged

Default: True
Default: 1550.0
Default: 1250.0
Default: 1250.0
Default: 1550.0

Refundable Credits

Personal Refundable Credit

Default: True
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: True
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0

Earned Income Tax Credit

Default: True
Default: 510.0
Default: 3400.0
Default: 5616.0
Default: 6318.0
Default: 0.0765
Default: 0.34
Default: 0.4
Default: 0.45
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0765
Default: 0.1598
Default: 0.2106
Default: 0.2106
Default: True
Default: 8340.0
Default: 18340.0
Default: 18340.0
Default: 18340.0
Default: True
Default: 5590.0
Default: 5590.0
Default: 5590.0
Default: 5590.0
Default: 25
Default: 64
Default: True
Default: 3450.0
Default: 9e+99
Default: False

Additional Child Tax Credit

Default: 0.15
Default: 0.0
Default: True
Default: 3000.0
Default: 3

New Refundable Child Tax Credit

Default: True
Default: 0.0
Default: True
Default: 0.0
Default: False
Default: 0.0
Default: True
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: False
Default: 0.0
Default: False

Nonrefundable Credits

Personal Nonrefundable Credit

Default: True
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: True
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0

Child And Dependent Care

Default: True
Default: 3000.0
Default: True
Default: 15000.0
Default: 35.0

Child Tax Credit

Default: True
Default: 1000.0
Default: True
Default: 0.0
Default: True
Default: 75000.0
Default: 110000.0
Default: 55000.0
Default: 75000.0
Default: 0.05
Default: True
Default: 0.0
Default: True
Default: 0.0
Default: False
Default: True
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0

Misc. Credit Limits

Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0

Itemized Deductions

Medical Expenses

Default: 0.075
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: True
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99

State And Local Income And Sales Taxes

Default: 0.0
Default: 9e+99
Default: True
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99
Default: True
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99

State, Local, And Foreign Real Estate Taxes

Default: 0.0
Default: 9e+99
Default: True
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99

Interest Paid

Default: 0.0
Default: True
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99

Charity

Default: 0.5
Default: 0.3
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: True
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0

Casualty

Default: 0.1
Default: 0.0
Default: True
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99

Miscellaneous

Default: 0.02
Default: 0.0
Default: True
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99

Itemized Deduction Limitation

Default: True
Default: 261500.0
Default: 313800.0
Default: 156900.0
Default: 287650.0
Default: 0.03
Default: 0.8

Surtax On Itemized Deduction Benefits Above An AGI Threshold

Default: 0.0
Default: 1.0
Default: True
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: True
Default: True
Default: True
Default: True
Default: True
Default: True
Default: True

Ceiling On The Benefit Of Itemized Deductions As A Percent Of Deductible Expenses

Default: 1.0
Default: True
Default: True
Default: True
Default: True
Default: True
Default: True
Default: True

Ceiling On The Amount Of Itemized Deductions Allowed

Default: True
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99
Default: True
Default: True
Default: True
Default: True
Default: True
Default: True
Default: True

Capital Gains And Dividends

Regular - Long Term Capital Gains And Qualified Dividends

Default: 0.0
Default: True
Default: 37950.0
Default: 75900.0
Default: 37950.0
Default: 50800.0
Default: 0.15
Default: True
Default: 418400.0
Default: 470700.0
Default: 235350.0
Default: 444550.0
Default: 0.2
Default: True
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99
Default: 1.0

AMT - Long Term Capital Gains And Qualified Dividends

Default: 0.0
Default: True
Default: 37950.0
Default: 75900.0
Default: 37950.0
Default: 50800.0
Default: 0.15
Default: True
Default: 418400.0
Default: 470700.0
Default: 235350.0
Default: 444550.0
Default: 0.2
Default: True
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99
Default: 1.0

Tax All Capital Gains And Dividends The Same As Regular Taxable Income

Default: False
Default: True
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0

Personal Income

Regular: Non-AMT, Non-Pass-Through

Default: 0.1
Default: True
Default: 9325.0
Default: 18650.0
Default: 9325.0
Default: 13350.0
Default: 0.15
Default: True
Default: 37950.0
Default: 75900.0
Default: 37950.0
Default: 50800.0
Default: 0.25
Default: True
Default: 91900.0
Default: 153100.0
Default: 76550.0
Default: 131200.0
Default: 0.28
Default: True
Default: 191650.0
Default: 233350.0
Default: 116675.0
Default: 212500.0
Default: 0.33
Default: True
Default: 416700.0
Default: 416700.0
Default: 208350.0
Default: 416700.0
Default: 0.35
Default: True
Default: 418400.0
Default: 470700.0
Default: 235350.0
Default: 444550.0
Default: 0.396
Default: True
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99
Default: 1.0

Pass-Through

Default: 0.1
Default: True
Default: 9325.0
Default: 18650.0
Default: 9325.0
Default: 13350.0
Default: 0.15
Default: True
Default: 37950.0
Default: 75900.0
Default: 37950.0
Default: 50800.0
Default: 0.25
Default: True
Default: 91900.0
Default: 153100.0
Default: 76550.0
Default: 131200.0
Default: 0.28
Default: True
Default: 191650.0
Default: 233350.0
Default: 116675.0
Default: 212500.0
Default: 0.33
Default: True
Default: 416700.0
Default: 416700.0
Default: 208350.0
Default: 416700.0
Default: 0.35
Default: True
Default: 418400.0
Default: 470700.0
Default: 235350.0
Default: 444550.0
Default: 0.396
Default: True
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99
Default: 1.0
Default: 1.0
Default: 0.0
Default: False
Default: True
Default: 0.0
Default: 9e+99
Default: True
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0
Default: 0.0

Alternative Minimum Tax

Default: True
Default: 54300.0
Default: 84500.0
Default: 42250.0
Default: 54300.0
Default: 0.25
Default: True
Default: 120700.0
Default: 160900.0
Default: 80450.0
Default: 120700.0
Default: 0.26
Default: True
Default: 187800.0
Default: 0.02

Other Taxes

Net Investment Income Tax

Default: True
Default: 200000.0
Default: 250000.0
Default: 125000.0
Default: 200000.0
Default: False
Default: 0.038

Surtaxes

New Minimum Tax

Default: 0.0
Default: True
Default: 1000000.0
Default: 1000000.0
Default: 500000.0
Default: 1000000.0
Default: True
Default: 2000000.0
Default: 2000000.0
Default: 1000000.0
Default: 2000000.0

New AGI Surtax

Default: 0.0
Default: True
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99
Default: 9e+99

Lump-Sum Tax

Default: 0.0

Universal Basic Income

UBI Benefits

Default: True
Default: 0.0
Default: True
Default: 0.0
Default: True
Default: 0.0

UBI Taxability

Default: 0.0

Benefits

Benefit Repeal

Default: False
Default: False
Default: False
Default: False
Default: False
Default: False
Default: False
Default: False
Default: False
Default: False
Default: False