Eulogy to a Blog: Paul Caron Ends TaxProf Blog After 21 Years of Impactful Commentary
On September 8, 2025, Paul Caron, the visionary behind TaxProf Blog, announced the end of an era with his 55,782nd and final post, closing a 21-year chapter that transformed tax and legal education discourse. The decision, prompted by the discontinuation of the blog’s hosting platform Typepad, marks the end of a digital institution that garnered over 200 million page views and shaped the careers of countless legal professionals. Here’s a reflection on Caron’s legacy, the blog’s impact, and what’s next, with insights relevant to U.S. readers and the global academic community.
The End of a Digital Dynasty
Paul Caron, the Duane and Kelly Roberts Dean at Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, launched TaxProf Blog in 2004 as a passion project, fulfilling a boyhood dream of daily reporting akin to covering the Boston Red Sox for The Boston Globe. Hosted on Typepad, the blog became a go-to resource for tax law updates, legal education trends, and occasional faith-based reflections. Its daily posts, meticulously curated by Caron, offered summaries of public documents, making complex issues accessible to professionals and lay readers alike.
Typepad’s announcement on August 27, 2025, that it would discontinue all blogs by September 30 forced Caron’s hand. “At this stage in my life, I am not interested in starting anew on a different platform,” he wrote in his final post, expressing hope to find a new home for the blog’s massive archive of 55,780 posts. The decision, while pragmatic, left the legal community mourning the loss of what Bryan Camp, a Texas Tech law professor, called a “go-to space” for staying informed without sifting through the “universe of news.”
My Last TaxProf Blog Post
By Paul Caron
TaxProf Blog has been a labor of love these past 21 years. I have been puzzling over when would be the right time to stop. Typepad, the platform on which TaxProf Blog is hosted, made the decision for me when it announced on August 27th that it will discontinue all blogs effective September 30th. At this stage in my life, I am not interested in starting anew on a different platform. I hope to find another home for the massive content of my 55,780 TaxProf Blog posts. If I do, I will post the link on this post before September 30th and notify the subscribers to my tax and legal education email lists.
I am proud of the role TaxProf Blog has played in the tax and legal education communities over the past 21 years. My boyhood dream was to be a sports reporter covering the Boston Red Sox on a daily basis for The Boston Globe (after it became obvious even to me that my dream of playing first base for the Red Sox would not pan out). My wife Courtney early on said the blog scratched that itch for me in academics rather than sports.
Before TaxProf Blog sunsets on September 30th, I would greatly appreciate it if readers who have enjoyed my tax, legal education, and/or faith coverage through the years would drop a short note in the comment section at the bottom of this post. When I eventually retire, I will cherish the memories of the time I spent writing this blog for over two decades in the hope that it enriched your lives just a little bit.
A Legacy of Influence
TaxProf Blog was more than a news aggregator; it was a cornerstone of the tax and legal education communities. Described by Danielle M. Conway, dean at Penn State Dickinson Law, as an “anchor-person dean,” Caron’s blog provided unparalleled transparency, summarizing critical developments and fostering dialogue among academics, practitioners, and policymakers. With over 200,000 million page views, it became a daily ritual for many, earning Caron the affectionate nickname “Blog Emperor Paul” from peers like Bryan Camp.
The blog’s influence extended beyond tax law, covering legal education trends and sparking debates on issues like law school rankings and diversity in academia. Brian Leiter, a University of Chicago professor, noted it was the only law blog he read regularly, underscoring its unique role in the field. Its closure leaves a void, with no immediate successor to fill its comprehensive niche.
Public and Expert Reactions
The announcement sent shockwaves through the legal community. On X, users like @LawProfInsights mourned, “TaxProf Blog was my morning coffee—irreplaceable.” Others, like @LegalScholar22, urged Caron to reconsider: “Please find a new platform, Paul! We need your voice.” William Brewbaker III, dean at the University of Alabama, praised Caron’s curation as a lifeline for busy professionals, a sentiment echoed across law schools nationwide.
Experts see the closure as a reflection of broader digital shifts. “Blogs are fading as platforms like X take over real-time discourse,” said media analyst Sarah Klein in Law.com. Yet, Caron’s decision not to migrate suggests a personal choice to step back, with hopes pinned on an archive solution to preserve his work.
Impact on U.S. Audiences
For American legal professionals, TaxProf Blog was a vital resource, shaping tax policy debates and legal education reform. Its absence could hinder access to centralized, reliable information, particularly for smaller law firms and solo practitioners who relied on Caron’s summaries. Economically, the blog’s influence on tax law discussions indirectly supported the $400 billion U.S. legal market by informing practice and policy.
Socially, TaxProf Blog fostered a sense of community among tax scholars and practitioners, a role now at risk. Its faith-based posts also resonated with Christian legal professionals, a niche but significant audience in the U.S., where 65% of adults identify as Christian, per a 2025 Pew Research poll. Politically, the blog’s neutral tone provided a rare space for bipartisan tax discussions, a void that could deepen polarization in legal circles.
Looking Ahead: Preserving a Legacy
Caron’s promise to find a new home for the blog’s archive offers hope that its wealth of knowledge—spanning tax codes, case law, and education trends—won’t be lost. Potential platforms like SSRN or university servers could host the content, ensuring continued access. Meanwhile, Caron invited readers to leave comments on his final post, a gesture that underscores his personal connection to the community he built.
As the legal world bids farewell to TaxProf Blog, Paul Caron’s legacy endures. His work, described by Conway as “the embodiment of availability,” leaves an indelible mark on tax and legal education. For U.S. readers, this eulogy is a call to honor Caron’s contribution by continuing the pursuit of knowledge and dialogue he championed for over two decades.