Karen Schlain - Deputy Commissioner, Tax Policy and Data Analytics - DOF

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Karen Schlain
Deputy Commissioner, Tax Policy and Data Analytics

Deputy Commissioner Karen Schlain is a nationally recognized municipal tax expert who has devoted her distinguished career to the City of New York.

Deputy Commissioner Schlain leads the Tax Policy and Data Analytics Division. This division reviews, analyzes, and evaluates existing and proposed tax policies; mines business, property, and income tax data for policy modeling, revenue forecasting, and audit selection; and publishes a variety of statistical reports that inform public policy. The division also identifies data resources, improves data accuracy and accessibility, and enables users throughout the Department of Finance to leverage data to improve efficiency and customer service.
Ms. Schlain began her service with DOF in 1986 and has led a number of critically important initiatives, including the modeling of revenue and incidence analysis for numerous reform proposals related to business, excise, income, and property taxes. She also created the Data Intelligence Group to enhance the agency’s audit and enforcement functions by identifying under-reporters and non-filers through the use of sophisticated computer models.
Deputy Commissioner Schlain holds a master’s degree in public policy from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics and economics from Johns Hopkins University.