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TaxBuzz Top 5 - Trump Aims to Kill EV Tax Credits, Chicago Council Nixes $300 Million Tax Increase & More

TaxBuzz Top 5 - Trump Aims to Kill EV Tax Credits, Chicago Council Nixes $300 Million Tax Increase & More

Each Friday, TaxBuzz brings you the top five tax and accounting headlines you need to know from the workweek. We know life can get busy and you don't always have time to scroll through your news feed to stay informed.

We weed through all of the week's stories to showcase the most important updates in the tax and accounting world.

1. Trump’s Transition Team Eyes Repeal of $7,500 EV Tax Credit

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Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

President-elect Donald Trump’s energy-policy transition team is considering repealing the $7,500 federal tax credit for electric vehicle (EV) purchases, sources told Reuters. The move, part of a broader tax reform agenda, could disrupt the U.S. EV market, particularly impacting automakers reliant on subsidies to drive adoption.

Tesla, the nation’s leading EV manufacturer, appears to back the repeal. CEO Elon Musk, a Trump ally, acknowledged that while Tesla may face some sales impact, the repeal would deal a severe blow to competitors like General Motors, Rivian, and Lucid. Following the news, Tesla’s stock fell nearly 6%, while Rivian and Lucid saw steeper declines.

The tax credit, introduced under President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), has been instrumental in promoting EV adoption and bolstering U.S. automakers' global competitiveness. Industry groups, including the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, have urged Congress to preserve the credit, noting that it plays a role in cementing U.S. leadership in the auto sector.

Trump’s team, led by oil magnate Harold Hamm and Governor Doug Burgum, sees the credit as an expendable policy, anticipating broad Republican support in Congress. Funds saved from the repeal could finance extensions to Trump’s expiring tax cuts from his first term in office.

2. Property Taxes Surge Across U.S., Southeast Hit Hardest

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Credit: Edwin Remsberg/Getty Images

Property taxes have risen in nearly every major U.S. metro over the past five years, with southeastern cities, especially in Florida, bearing the brunt of the increases, according to a Redfin report. A mix of skyrocketing home values, population growth, and the growing financial toll of natural disasters has driven these hikes.

Indianapolis experienced the most significant percentage increase, with median property taxes rising 67% since 2019 to $205 monthly. Atlanta followed closely, with a 66% jump to $239. Rising home values and expanded city budgets for services like parks contributed to these increases.

Florida metros dominated the list of the highest percentage gains. Jacksonville saw property taxes rise by 60% to $228, while Tampa’s median payment increased 57% to $250. Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Orlando also reported hikes of nearly 50%.

The New York Times notes that three key factors have driven Florida’s tax surge: pandemic-fueled home value increases, the state’s population boom creating demand for municipal services, and reliance on property taxes to fund climate resilience projects in the absence of state income tax.

3. Chicago Mayor Faces Major Setback as City Council Rejects $300M Property Tax Hike

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Credit: Justin Sullivan/Staff/Getty Images

The Chicago City Council unanimously rejected Mayor Brandon Johnson’s proposed $300 million property tax increase on Thursday in a 50-0 vote. While largely symbolic, the move highlighted mounting resistance to Johnson’s budget approach and a growing independence among council members.

The tax hike had drawn sharp criticism for breaking a key campaign promise and adding to residents’ burdens after two consecutive years of steep increases. Critics, including Alderman Marty Quinn (13th), called the rejection a major political defeat.

“This is a defeat of epic proportions,” Quinn told the Chicago Sun-Times, pointing out the Council’s refusal to be cornered by Johnson’s timeline, which some saw as a tactic to force a rushed year-end vote.

Negotiations to close the budget gap are underway, with Johnson exploring alternative revenue sources and reprogramming federal relief funds. Despite the setback, Johnson expressed confidence in passing a balanced budget without service cuts or layoffs, though he has yet to specify replacement funding for the property tax increase.

4. Louisiana Lawmakers Postpone Vote on Sales Tax Expansion in Tax Reform Package

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Credit: Bruce Bordelon/Getty Images

Louisiana lawmakers delayed a vote on a key part of Governor Jeff Landry's sweeping $2 billion tax reform plan on Thursday. While most of the package, which includes income and corporate tax cuts, has advanced, the proposed sales tax on services like lawn care, tattoos, and coin-operated laundry has faced resistance.

The bill, expected to raise $500 million to offset the revenue loss from tax cuts, failed to gain sufficient support in the GOP-majority House. Some lawmakers, including Republican Rep. Joe Stagni, voiced strong opposition, with Stagni remarking that the bill might be “on life support.”

Landry, however, remains confident, urging critics not to judge the bill before it is fully debated. Some lawmakers are opposed to taxing certain services, citing concerns about increased costs for small businesses and higher insurance rates. Despite this, the House passed a measure to make a temporary sales tax increase permanent, raising $820 million annually, ABC News reports.

Landry's proposed tax overhaul, modeled after those in North Carolina and Texas, aims to make Louisiana more competitive and attract business investment. However, critics argue the expanded sales tax will disproportionately impact lower-income households, as the state’s tax system is already one of the most regressive in the country.

5. New Zealand Tightens Tax Rules: What U.S. Companies Need to Know

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Credit: Oliver Strewe/Getty Images

New Zealand’s Inland Revenue is ramping up enforcement on multinational corporations, focusing on areas like base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS). U.S. businesses with operations there should prepare for closer scrutiny, especially in transfer pricing and intercompany transactions.

Per Bloomberg, the agency has flagged high-risk areas like bundled intangible property transactions, specialized services, and interest deductions. U.S. companies must ensure transfer pricing aligns with New Zealand’s unique market conditions, which demand higher operating margins due to geographic isolation and limited competition.

New Zealand also applies anti-avoidance rules aggressively, especially to permanent establishment status and treaty shopping. Coupled with increased use of data analytics, these measures signal a shift to more proactive and tailored compliance efforts.

To avoid penalties, U.S. firms should engage early with Inland Revenue through rulings or advance pricing agreements, ensuring robust documentation and localized strategies that reflect New Zealand's tax environment.

Which headline this week most interests you?

Feature Image Credit: James Gilbert/Stringer/Getty Images

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Rebekah Barton

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