FiscalSim is an open-source, comprehensive tax and benefit calculator
Open-source data
Unlike most tax and benefit calculators, all the data, tax logic, and calculations behind FiscalSim are open-source. This means anyone can review, replicate, and rework the underlying model.
FiscalSim is a project of the Center for Growth and Opportunity at Utah State University. The CGO is proud to sponsor this accessible tax calculator built to allow experts and non-experts alike to test their policy experiments.
What policies does FiscalSim cover?
FiscalSim was built to simulate the effects of policy experiments on the total population, the federal government, state governments, and individuals and households. With FiscalSim you can model changes to:
Federal income tax rates
Earned income tax credit
Federal revenue
Federal benefit programs
(Social Security, Medicare, etc.)
Poverty
rates
State income
tax rates
Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program
(SNAP - food stamps)
Federal
income tax
rates
Earned
income tax
credit
Federal
revenue
Federal benefit programs
(Social Security,
Medicare, etc.)
Poverty
rates
State income
tax rates
Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program
(SNAP - food stamps)
How does FiscalSim work?
The backend model for FiscalSim is the open-source Python model, FiscalSim-US. FiscalSim-US is built on representative datasets of the national population as well as each state. We are constantly updating the open-source model and the FiscalSim web app. Collaboration is welcomed and encouraged. Please reach out with any ideas for projects or improvements.
What is the CGO?
The Center for Growth and Opportunity at Utah State University connects academic entrepreneurs with the challenges of today by exploring the way key institutions in society — business, government, and community — ignite economic growth and increase opportunity for everyone to improve their lives. We also conduct research on technology and innovation, immigration, environmental stewardship, and tax policy to inform policymakers and create a better world.
What is the CGO?
The Center for Growth and Opportunity at Utah State University connects academic entrepreneurs with the challenges of today by exploring the way key institutions in society — business, government, and community — ignite economic growth and increase opportunity for everyone to improve their lives. We also conduct research on technology and innovation, immigration, environmental stewardship, and tax policy to inform policymakers and create a better world.
