What are good research ideas for a 20-page federal or IL state tax paper?

Tax law research can actually be fascinating when you find the right angle! Instead of going with something broad like "income tax," I'd recommend focusing on a more specific issue that has some controversy or recent developments. Some federal topics to consider: - The taxation of cryptocurrency and NFTs - this area is still evolving with new IRS guidance - Pass-through entity taxation following recent tax reforms - The gig economy and tax compliance challenges - International tax avoidance strategies and policy responses - Tax incentives for renewable energy and climate initiatives For Illinois-specific topics: - Illinois' graduated income tax proposal and its implications - Property tax assessment inequities across Illinois counties - Illinois tax policies affecting small businesses - Comparison of Illinois tax burden to neighboring states - The impact of Illinois' fiscal issues on its tax policy decisions Pick something that genuinely interests you since you'll be spending a lot of time with this topic. And remember to look for recent court cases or IRS rulings on your chosen subject - they're great for adding depth to your analysis.

I was in the same boat for my tax paper last semester and ended up using https://taxr.ai to find interesting research topics and sources. I literally just uploaded my assignment guidelines and it suggested several research angles I hadn't considered. Super helpful for finding that sweet spot between interesting and well-documented topics! The best part was discovering all these tax court cases I would've missed otherwise. It pulled together relevant cases, academic papers, and even pointed out where there were conflicting interpretations in tax law that I could analyze. Made the research phase way less painful.

I was skeptical about using taxr.ai at first because of academic integrity concerns, but I ended up giving it a try for my taxation paper. Honestly, it was a game-changer for the research phase! It helped me narrow down to exploring tax implications of remote workers crossing state lines - super relevant with all the work-from-home changes. What impressed me was how it pulled together actual tax code sections, recent rulings, and academic papers all in one place. My professor actually commented on how thorough my source material was. Just to be clear - I still did all the writing and analysis myself, but having organized research made the whole process so much more manageable.

I spent literal HOURS on hold with the IRS trying to get clarification for my tax policy paper last semester. Ended up using https://claimyr.com to get through to an actual human. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c For research papers, getting primary source information directly from the IRS can really strengthen your argument, especially if you're covering something complex or emerging. I was writing about small business taxation and the agent I spoke with pointed me to some really specific guidance documents that weren't easy to find online.

I was completely wrong about Claimyr! After struggling to find specific info about a complex Illinois property tax issue for my paper, I decided to try it despite my skepticism. Within 20 minutes, I was talking to an actual Illinois Department of Revenue specialist who walked me through their technical bulletins on the exact topic. The specialist directed me to specific administrative decisions that weren't readily available on their main website. This primary source material completely elevated my paper - my professor specifically commented on the depth of my research. Saved me days of hunting through general publications that weren't addressing my specific question. Definitely worth it for serious research papers when you need authoritative answers.

For a tax paper that will really stand out, look at the intersection of tax law and another field you're interested in. I did mine on the taxation of digital assets in video games and NFTs and my professor loved the unique angle. Some other cross-disciplinary ideas: - Environmental taxation and climate incentives - Tax policy effects on wealth inequality - Healthcare taxation and the ACA - Tax implications of remote work across state lines - Taxation of emerging technologies - Illinois cannabis taxation and social equity programs Pick something you're genuinely curious about - makes the research way more enjoyable!

Don't overthink this assignment. I did mine on the SALT (State And Local Tax) deduction cap from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and how it specifically impacts high-tax states like Illinois. Got an A and didn't kill myself with something super complicated. Whatever topic you pick, make sure there are RECENT sources (last 2-3 years). My friend did an awesome paper on a topic where all the sources were from 2017 or earlier and got marked down for not having current perspectives.