FiscalSim is an open-source, comprehensive tax and benefit calculator that anyone can use to simulate how changes to fiscal policy impact individuals, government budgets, and the economy at large.

The FiscalSim model is based on the OpenFisca project architecture for modeling fiscal rules. We initially were working with the PolicyEngine project but branched off in mid-2022. The initial version of our web application has many of the same functionalities as the PolicyEngine web application for the US.

FiscalSim can be used to simulate the effects of policy changes on the total population, federal government, state governments, and for individuals and households. Experiment with changes to any of the following policies:

• Federal income tax schedule
• Federal tax credits
• Social Security
• Medicare
• High efficiency electric home rebate
• Residential efficiency and electrification rebate
• Federal Communication Commission’s (FFC) Lifeline
• Affordable Connectivity Program
• Department of House and Urban Development (HUD) subsidies
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash benefits
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• School meal programs
• Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
• State income tax
• State tax credits

FiscalSim is a project of the Center for Growth and Opportunity at Utah State University. The CGO 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.

Please report any issues to [email protected]. We also would appreciate suggestions for improving the model.

You can access the backend model for the FiscalSim web app on GitHub here.