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Policy Cost Calculator
Built for Stephen Moore · Economist
Enter your household, see the modeled impact of a tax or policy change — every assumption visible.
Federal Tax Impact · All Assumptions Visible
Current Law vs TCJA Expires (Pre-2017 Rates)
Compare current law against
Rates revert if Congress does not act before Jan 1, 2026 · source: CBO + Joint Committee on Taxation projections
Household Profile
Standard deduction: $15,000 (current) · $8,400 (proposed)
Net Annual Change Under Proposed
+$3,471
$289 more per month
$10,864
Current law tax
$14,335
Proposed tax
11%
current
Eff. rate
15%
proposed
Eff. rate
Marginal rate · current
22.0%
Marginal rate · proposed
25.0%
Current Law — TCJA 2025
| Rate | Income in Bracket | Tax Owed |
|---|---|---|
| 10.0% | $11,925 | $1,193 |
| 12.0% | $36,550 | $4,386 |
| 22.0% | $24,025 | $5,286 |
| Total · taxable $72,500 | $10,864 | |
TCJA Expires (Pre-2017 Rates)
| Rate | Income in Bracket | Tax Owed |
|---|---|---|
| 10.0% | $12,000 | $1,200 |
| 15.0% | $36,400 | $5,460 |
| 25.0% | $30,700 | $7,675 |
| Total · taxable $79,100 | $14,335 | |
Plain-Language Summary of Trade-offs
- This Single household pays $3,471 more per year — $289/month — under TCJA Expires (Pre-2017 Rates).
- The standard deduction falls from $15,000 to $8,400 — immediately raising taxable income by $6,600 for households that don't itemize.
- The TCJA's doubled standard deduction was the single largest benefit for middle-income, non-itemizing households. Its expiration disproportionately affects this group.
- Non-partisan: this tool shows dollars, not verdicts. The same numbers apply regardless of which party proposes each scenario. Open the bracket waterfall to see exactly where each dollar of tax originates.
Federal income tax only. FICA, state income tax, AMT, capital-gains rates, child credits, and earned-income credits are not modeled. Current-law thresholds are 2025 IRS figures (Rev. Proc. 2024-61). This is a transparency tool — not tax advice. Consult a professional for your situation.
Scenario Ledger · SHA-256 Hash Chain
# policy-cost-calculator · scenario ledger
# Save a scenario to begin a tamper-evident, hash-chained record.
# Each entry folds in the previous hash — reorder or edit one and the chain breaks.
Showcase demo for the America's Future 80th Anniversary Summit. Showcase · best home: LLC / BBG Academy. Seeded with realistic sample data; runs payment-dark (no billing). Not a production system.