Support the fact-based journalism you rely on with a donation to Marketplace today. Give Now!

Why Apple owes Ireland $14 billion in taxes

Sep 13, 2024
In this week's "Make Me Smart" newsletter, we explain why Europe's highest court ruled Apple owed billions in unfair tax breaks. Plus, we explore ghost towns put up for sale and do the numbers on Chinese adoptions worldwide.
Apple's European headquarters in Cork City, Ireland.
Getty Images

China pledges tax reform. That is a big deal for this socialist country.

Jul 24, 2024
Why China's leaders have long delayed tax reforms in the socialist country.
A shelf displaying China's national drink - a fiery grain spirit called baijiu. A change in consumption tax may soon push prices up even further.
Charles Zhang/Marketplace

The origins of the IRS logo

Apr 5, 2024
For $197,000, in today’s dollars, a design firm revamped IRS tax forms in the ‘60s. That included the creation of a new symbol representing an eagle.
It can be hard to make out the IRS symbol, which depicts an eagle.
LPETTET/Getty Images

How much tax-funded tourist promotion money does a popular destination need?

Aug 18, 2022
In the tourist hot spot of the Texas Big Bend, some raise concerns about taxes used to promote even more tourism.
Some locals in the Big Bend area would like to see the hotel occupancy tax go toward housing assistance or building new roads. Above, the entrance to the Terlingua Ghost Town in the Big Bend region.
Hannah Gentiles

Quebec, suffering Canada's highest COVID deaths, will tax the unvaccinated

Jan 14, 2022
Strains on ICUs across the province are behind the provincial government's decision.
A nurse prepares a COVID-19 vaccine in Montreal, Quebec. The province is planning to impose a tax on the unvaccinated.
Andrej Ivanov/AFP via Getty Images

House votes to continue controversial IRS program

Apr 10, 2019
The "free file" program is controversial because it's run by the same private companies that make money on tax preparation.
Armando La Rosa directs people to the Liberty Tax Service office as the deadline to file taxes looms on April 15, 2016 in Miami, Florida. 
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

For public good, not for profit.

Ahead of tax season, accountants are scrambling to understand the new law

Dec 21, 2018
It's been a year since Congress passed the $1.5 trillion tax overhaul. And there is still a lot accountants and lawyers don't understand about it.
Accountants are putting in long hours in order to understand the tax bill that was signed into law Dec. 22, 2017.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Philadelphia building tax could fund affordable housing

Jun 12, 2018
Philadelphia City Council is expected to vote this week on what some members see as a potential solution to the city’s affordable housing problem — a 1 percent tax that could fund rental construction and help qualifying home buyers make down payments on houses. But the proposal is controversial. Click the audio player above to hear […]

Seattle’s tax on big business draws attention of more cities

May 16, 2018
This week, the Seattle City Council unanimously voted in what’s commonly known as a “headcount tax.” Businesses that bring in more than $20 million in annual revenue will have to pay a $275 tax for each of their full-time employees. It’s a lower fee than what many were hoping for, but there are still plenty […]