Taxes for the Masses: Recent Episodes
Lisa De Simone and Bridget Stomberg
Lisa De Simone and Bridget Stomberg (friends, professors, and tax nerds) discuss tax topics in simple terms.
In this episode we discuss code section 83(b), which potentially allows employees to alter the timing and character of how their stock-based compensation gets taxed, if their employers allow it.
In this episode, we discuss what taxes undocumented workers pay and recent efforts by other parts of the federal government to gain access to tax return information provided by immigrants.
In this episode, we discuss tax considerations for anyone working in the US and retiring abroad.
In this episode, we welcome Scott Hodge to discuss why and how we should consider taxing tax-exempt entities.
In this episode, we discuss visa and tax issues faced by international students studying and working in the United States.
In this episode, we discuss how states determine which federal tax provisions to adopt and when.
In this episode, we discuss the unforeseen ways that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act interacts with a corporate alternative minimum tax provisions passed years earlier.
In this episode, we discuss how many of the new deductions under the OBBBA passed July 4, 2025 work and interact with each other.
In this episode, we discuss the tragic death of the government's free tax filing program, welcoming guest Amanda Renteria of Code for America to discuss its demise.
In this episode, we discuss the latest tax research presented at the Hawaii Accounting Research Conference.
Coming up, we'll be talking about some surprising effects of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law July 4, 2025. In the meantime, revisit this episode, where we discuss the major tax provisions of the bill.
In this episode, we discuss new research on the distribution of capital gains and capital gains taxes over time.
In this episode, we discuss the mechanics of the qualified tip deduction and welcome Alexander Rifaat to discuss IRS and Treasury guidance issued following the passage of the provision.
In today’s episode, we welcome Katie Daugherty, who’s dissertation examines the effect of the TCJA on public accounting firm’s demand for tax talent.
In this episode, we welcome Benjamin Leff, a law professor at American University, to discuss how a recent change to the Johnson Amendment came about and its implications for the future.
In this episode, we discuss the latest tax research presented at the 2025 Illinois Tax Symposium.
In this episode, we drink champagne and look back on 100 episodes of Taxes for the Masses. Shenanigans ensue.
In this episode, we discuss the long-standing qualified small business stock exemption and how it has been updated by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
In this episode, we discuss the major tax provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law July 4, 2025.
In this episode, we discuss some of the ways that athletes and professional sports teams avoid those taxes.
In this episode, we discuss the estate tax planning techniques of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.
In today’s episode, we welcome Brooke Lierman, Comptroller of the state of Maryland, to discuss steps the state of Maryland is taking to increase the take-up of the credit.
In this episode, we discuss the budget blueprint passed by House Republicans to extend the temporary provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which are set to expire at the end of 2025 without legislative action.
In this episode, we discuss some of the research presented at the 28th annual Tax Symposium hosted by UNC in Chapel Hill.
In today’s episode, we discuss recent research into the effectiveness of firm-specific tax subsidies and whether having more public information about these subsidies improves their effectiveness.
In this episode, we discuss the current state of federal tax incentives for EV purchases and how Trump could modify them during his term.
In today’s episode, we welcome Joe Thorndike to explain how tariffs work and what the consequences of new tariffs could be for U.S. individual and businesses.
In this episode, we discuss some of the latest tax research presented at the Hawaii Accounting Research Conference in January 2025.
We are taking a very short winter break, but we have something special for your listening enjoyment! We're revisiting this episode, which in turn revisits the potential reasons behind declining accounting enrollments, helped by special guest and MIT Professor Andrew Sutherland. We'll return soon with new episodes for 2025!
Check out the latest news on the podcast here: https://linktr.ee/taxesforthemasses
In this episode, we discuss the role of sin taxes in discouraging legal but potentially harmful behavior and in raising tax revenue.
In this episode, we discuss the potential tax benefits settlements and judgments from lawsuits can generate for the companies that pay them.
In this episode, we discuss how settlements and judgments are taxed by recipients, as well as arguments for changes to the current law.
In this episode, we invite University of Texas at Austin doctoral candidate Kaitlyn Kroeger to discuss her research on the effects of public accounting firms offshoring their services.
In this episode, we discuss the rules around charitable and political donations, as well as how donor advised funds can facilitate anonymous giving to politically engaged charities.
In this episode, we invite Andrew Sutherland, Associate Professor of Accounting at MIT, to revisit explanations behind declining accounting professionals and to discus his research on the topic.
In this episode, we discuss the potential consequences of both presidential candidates' proposals to exempt tips from taxes.
In this episode, we discuss two of the papers presented recently at the 6th Biennial Taxation Research Symposium hosted at the University of Texas in conjunction with the University of Waterloo.
In this episode, we discuss former President Trump's tax proposals as a 2024 presidential candidate.
In this episode, we discuss Vice President Harris' tax proposals as a 2024 presidential candidate.
As we are on a short summer break, we have something special planned for your listening enjoyment! Get ready to revisit some of your favorite tax topics with our timeless reruns. In this episode, we discuss the tax motivations behind Shohei Ohtani's record-breaking and tax-savvy contract with the LA Dodgers (and Lisa honors legendary Dodgers announcer Vin Scully).
Check out the latest news on the podcast here: https://linktr.ee/taxesforthemasses
As we are on a short summer break, we have something special planned for your listening enjoyment! Get ready to revisit some of your favorite tax topics with our timeless reruns. In this episode, we discuss the tax motivations for the rising trend in music catalog sales (and B sings a little Tay Tay).
Check out the latest news on the podcast here: https://linktr.ee/taxesforthemasses
As we are on a short summer break, we have something special planned for your listening enjoyment! Get ready to revisit some of your favorite tax topics with our timeless reruns. In this episode, we discuss the potential tax motivations and implications of Bezos’ big move to Florida.
Check out the latest news on the podcast here: https://linktr.ee/taxesforthemasses
As we are on a short summer break, we have something special planned for your listening enjoyment! Get ready to revisit some of your favorite tax topics with our timeless reruns. In this episode, we unpack the tax consequences of the NCAA's 2021 name, image, and likeness policy change to student athletes and discuss how athletic supporters have also tried to obtain favorable tax outcomes from NIL activities.
Check out the latest news on the podcast here: https://linktr.ee/taxesforthemasses
Hey Tax Nerds! We're taking a short summer break, but we have something special planned for your listening enjoyment! In the meantime, get ready to revisit some of your favorite tax topics with our timeless reruns. In this episode, we discuss the estate and gift tax consequences of the Chouinard family decision regarding their Patagonia fortune as well as alternative structures they could have considered.
Check out the latest news on the podcast here: https://linktr.ee/taxesforthemasses
In this episode, we welcome tax expert Scott Hodge to discuss his new book, Taxocracy: What You Don’t Know About Taxes and How They Rule Your Daily Life.
In this episode, we discuss the qualified business income deduction in light of a February 2024 report by the Congressional Research Service that examined the provision’s effect on investment and employment, equity, and taxpayer compliance.
In this episode, we unpack what research says about the effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act six years after its effective date.
In this episode, we discuss the causes and consequences of reduced interest in the accounting profession.
In this episode, we discuss the tax motivations for Shohei Ohtani's creative contract structure with the Dodgers.
In this episode, we discuss the tax motivations for the rising trend of sales of music catalogs.
In this episode, we discuss the latest tax research presented at the 2024 Journal of the American Taxation Association Conference.
In this episode, we discuss the sources of the tax gap in the U.S., what it means for government operations, and how we can best close it.
In this episode, we discuss the potential tax motivations and implications of Bezos’ big move to Florida.
In this episode, we discuss the issue behind the largest single IRS assessment in history, what Microsoft disclosed about the issue, and what might happen next.
In this episode, we unpack the tax consequences of the NCAA's 2021 name, image, and likeness policy change to student athletes and discuss how athletic supporters have also tried to obtain favorable tax outcomes from NIL activities.
In this episode, we discuss two year-end tax bills that many hoped Congress would pass in 2023 but that they very likely will not.
In this episode, we discuss a 2014 Irish tax law change and how it impacted large U.S. multinational companies. We are joined by Brian Grant, graduating PhD student at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business.
In today’s episode, we’re delighted to welcome Robert Stack, Managing Director at public accounting firm Deloitte, to provide an update on the global efforts to impose this tax.
In this episode, we explain the tax issues at the heart of the Moore v. United States case brought in front of the Supreme Court and what the Court’s decision could mean for current and future tax laws.
In this episode, we discuss the unexpected and potentially unjustified magnitude of Employee Retention Tax Credit payments.
In this episode, we discus the latest tax accounting research presented at the biannual Tax Symposium hosted by the University of Illinois in Chicago.
In this episode, we discuss the pros and cons of taxing carried interest as capital gains, as well as the current state of political discourse on the topic.
In this episode, we welcome Patrick Badolato, an Associate Professor of Instruction from the University of Texas at Austin, to discuss what investors and other interested parties can learn about taxes by examining a company’s income tax footnote.
In this episode, we discuss the mechanics of the IRA's Stock Buyback Tax, whether it is achieving its intended goal of curbing buybacks and how some lawmakers in the U.S. hope to expand its scope.
In this episode, we welcome Evelyn Smith, researcher at the University of Michigan, to discuss her research on racial bias in the IRS’ audit selection models.
In this episode, we discuss the general fines and penalties individuals can face related to their taxes and discuss the details of Hunter Biden’s case in light of those rules.
In this episode, we discuss some ways artificial intelligence like ChatGPT could improve and worsen the US taxpayer experience.
In this episode, we discuss different approaches to taxing pollution like carbon emissions, as well as recent research examining the impact of these policies.
In this episode, we provide background on the impetus for a potential IRS-run direct e-file tax return system and hear from Ayushi Roy, Deputy Director at New America, on the independent third-party review of the IRS' feasibility report.
This episode is on the movement of high-level employees from public-sector to private-sector jobs and vice versa.
This episode is on the employee retention tax credit with special guest Stefan Richter to discuss his research on the topic.
This episode is on how states tax corporations and how that affects their business decisions, with special guest Anthony Welsch to discuss his research on the topic.
In this very special episode, recorded LIVE at the University of Iowa's Tippie College of Business, we discuss tax policies and societal inequities.
In this episode, we outline the history of the WOTC, discus the limited evidence on its effectiveness, and highlight potential room for improvement in the policy.
In today’s episode, we welcome Jane Bowman, a Minnesota Tax Court Judge, to discuss property taxes.
In this episode, we explain how taxes may have influenced the rising rents trend over the past decade, along with other factors at play.
In this episode, we break down the tax policy changes embedded in the Inflation Reduction Act.
In this episode, we explain inflation at a high level and examine its relation to taxes.
In this episode, we discuss the history of deductibility of executive compensation and highlight academic evidence on the ability of tax policy to influence executive compensation.
In this episode, we discuss the laws requiring U.S. taxpayers to report foreign account information and research into the efficacy of those laws.
In this episode, we discuss the provisions of the Securing a Strong Retirement Act, also dubbed SECURE 2.0, and how it could influence inequality in America.
In this episode, we discuss papers presented at the Third Norwegian Tax Accounting Symposium held in Bergen, Norway in May 2022.
This episode breaks down the feud between Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Disney, then discusses the implications of using tax law to punish corporations for expressing political views.
In this episode, we outline the history of the EITC, recent proposals to modify and expand the credit, and evidence on its effectiveness.
In this episode, we discuss how firms that report profit to their shareholders under U.S. GAAP can pay little or no federal income tax.
In this episode, we discuss the tax implications of the gig economy for workers, companies and the government.
In this episode, we discuss the tax implications of cryptocurrency. We're joined by special guest Dan Hannum, COO of ZenLedger, a cryptocurrency tax software.
In this episode, we discuss the tax ramifications to employees of working from home with an emphasis on what types of compensation are taxable and what types of expenses are deductible.
In this episode, we discuss the tax ramifications to employees and potentially to their employers of working from home when the employee resides or works from a location that is outside of their employer’s state of operations.
In this episode, we discuss some of the latest research presented at the American Taxation Association's annual meeting and journal conference.
In this episode, we discuss the history of the IRS' free filing program and the recent controversy surrounding it.
In this episode, we discuss the tax consequences to the employee and the employer of stock-based compensation with a focus on executive stock options.
Today’s episode is on the federal marriage tax penalty, which is one way that taxes can contribute to inequality in the United States.
In this episode, we discuss the federal deduction for state and local taxes: why it exists, why it was capped, and why current proposals aim to increase the cap.
In this episode, we discuss tax loss harvesting, a tax planning tool that can reduce taxes on capital gains and boost investment returns, so long as one minds the wash sale rules.
Want to learn more about the billionaire income tax - a novel way to curb income tax avoidance by high-wealth and high-income individuals? Check out this episode where we welcome IU law professor David Gamage - who consulted with the Senate Finance Committee on the tax's design.
In this episode, we discuss global efforts to increase public disclosures about corporate tax avoidance in an effort to shame corporations into paying their "fair share."
In this episode, we discuss the Pandora Papers, a massive data leak of almost 12 million files from 14 different offshore companies that advise primarily wealthy clients on legal and financial transactions. We detail how and why non-U.S. citizens or residents are establishing trusts in U.S. states to facilitate tax avoidance and hide assets from creditors.
In this episode, we discuss Congress' recent expansion and acceleration of the Child Tax Credit, and why these changes have caused so much widespread confusion.
In this trailer, we describe how our podcast and suggested teaching materials can be used by educators.
In this episode, we provide an update on the proposed global minimum tax and what it means for multinational corporations, as well as global tax policy.
In this episode, we discuss the good, bad and ugly aspects of Biden's proposed minimum tax on book income.
Ever wondered what the difference between a traditional and Roth IRA is? Or what an IRA is? Or how Peter Thiel used his Roth to make $5B of taxable capital gains disappear? Tune in to this episode, where we'll cover all this and more!
In this second trailer, learn even more about the hosts and why we started Taxes for the Masses
In this episode, we discuss some of the more complicated international provisions of President Biden’s Made in American Tax plan, which could change the taxation of U.S. multinationals. The U.S. tax code currently allows U.S. multinationals to avoid or reduce the U.S. tax on some of their foreign earnings. Two of the guiding principles of the Made in American Tax Plan are reducing profit shifting by eliminating incentives for U.S. multinationals to offshore investment and ending the global race to the bottom. We discuss how President Biden proposes to achieve those goals.
In this episode, we discuss the recent history of IRS funding and how President Biden plans to arm the IRS with the resources it needs to take on aggressive corporate tax avoidance.
In this episode, we discuss the recent IRS data leak, how the wealthy avoid taxes, and the merits and drawbacks of a proposed wealth tax.
We discuss the good, bad, and ugly aspects of President Biden's proposal to increase the corporate tax rate to 28% as part of his Made in America Tax Plan.