Under the budget introduced by Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D), taxes would go up more than $6 billion per year, with additional revenue from both individual and corporate income taxes. The state’s flat personal income tax rate would increase by 46 percent, partially offset by an outsized increase in the poverty credit, which would see a family of four eligible […]
After a few years without much attention, taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are back in the headlines, with at least four states—Connecticut, Hawaii, New York, and Washington—considering such statewide taxes. Today, only localities (10 at the time of writing) levy excise taxes on sugary drinks in the U.S., but that could change this year. In Hawaii, Gov. David Ige (D) […]
Since the start of last year, the federal and state governments have spent nearly $600 billion on unemployment compensation payments, compared to the prior level of about $30 billion a year. It’s a lot of money—and it’s taxable at the federal level and in many states. Through February 13th, the federal government has spent $441 billion to supplement state payments […]
(a) Local income taxes are excluded. Eleven states have county- or city-level income taxes; the average rates expressed as a percentage of AGI within each jurisdiction are: 0.10% in Alabama; 0.36% in Indiana; 0.11% in Iowa; 1.29% in Kentucky; 2.18% in Maryland; 0.17% in Michigan; 0.22% in Missouri; 1.47% in New York; 1.59% in Ohio; and 1.15% in Pennsylvania. Data […]
We’re about to launch a free six-week course in state taxation, and we’d like you to join us. This coming Tuesday, February 16th, the Tax Foundation will kick off its “State Tax Policy Boot Camp,” designed with lawmakers and legislative staff in mind, but ideal for anyone interested in gaining a better understanding of state taxation. Across six sessions in […]
Key Findings In addition to its economic impact on Maryland businesses and the likelihood of serious legal challenges, Maryland’s proposed digital advertising tax is incredibly vague on vital definitions, creating uncertainty about where revenue is sourced and when it is subject to the tax. The legislation’s ambiguity could lead to double taxation, with multiple entities paying taxes on gross receipts […]
Sources of state revenue have come under closer scrutiny in light of the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, as different tax types have differing volatility and economic impact—although even beyond these unique circumstances, it is important for policymakers to understand the trade-offs associated with different sources of tax revenue. This week’s map looks at what percentage of each state’s state and local tax […]
Key Findings Sales taxes account for about one-third of state tax revenue, but most sales taxes are imposed on narrow—and still-narrowing—bases, with average sales tax breadth of only 30.63 percent and a median of 36.26 percent. Sales tax bases range from 21.91 percent of personal income in Massachusetts to 119.10 percent in Hawaii; the Massachusetts base is extremely narrow, while […]
The potential override of Gov. Larry Hogan’s (R) veto of a digital advertising tax (HB732) looms large over the current legislative session in Maryland, though it is only one of many tax proposals under consideration in the state. House Bill 732 passed with a veto-proof majority in 2020, and, if lawmakers override the governor’s veto, it will implement a digital […]
Since 2018’s landmark South Dakota v. Wayfair Supreme Court case, most states have jumped at the chance to use their newfound authority to tax a greater share of online sales. Some states designed their systems better than others, and many still include relics of previous regulations dealing with physical presence, but nearly every state was quick to take advantage of […]
State tax revenues held steady in 2020, coming in less than one-tenth of 1 percent lower than in 2019, according to the latest JPMorgan research (which is consistent with earlier data), and combined state and local revenues have likely risen year-over-year. This is a curious backdrop to the current federal debate, in which Congress is considering authorizing $350 billion in […]
Although this week’s Super Bowl festivities may be muted, with far fewer parties and celebrations, states with legalized sports betting may have something to cheer: a tax revenue bump thanks to the accompanying excise taxes. The American Gaming Association estimates that Americans will wager a total of $4.3 billion on the highly anticipated matchup of the defending champion Kansas City […]
Key Findings Forty-four states levy a corporate income tax. Rates range from 2.5 percent in North Carolina to 11.5 percent in New Jersey. Six states—Alaska, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania—levy top marginal corporate income tax rates of 9 percent or higher. Ten states—Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, and Utah—have top rates […]