How to Keep the Wealthy From Fleeing Connecticut

When it comes to saving on taxes the wealthy have to continually consider all their options because lawmakers never seem to stop pushing for more legislation aimed at making the wealthy pay more taxes. Lately, it seems that there are more and more reports of the nation’s wealthiest individuals living in high-tax locations deciding to pack up their bags and head for states that are more tax-friendly.
Connecticut continues to face this problem because the state reportedly continues to spend more than it should. Because of the overspending the state keeps creating new efforts to squeeze more taxes from its wealthiest citizens. The problem is, many of these wealthy individuals are moving out. According to a recent report in the Hartford Courant, two of the biggest offenders are Connecticut’s estate tax and it’s gift tax.
Connecticut relies on wealthy taxpayers more than most states, but the number of wealthy individuals coming to the state is slowing down, while the number of wealthy taxpayers leaving is increasing. In fact, after the state introduced a huge tax increase in 2011, more than 27,000 residents moved out and took close to $4 billion in annual adjusted gross income with them.
Perhaps the best way to deter the exodus of high net worth individuals is to repeal, or at least reform the estate tax and to completely eliminate the gift tax, as Connecticut is the only state with a tax of that kind.
www.courant.com/opinion/op-ed/hc-op-smith-repeal-ct-estate-tax-0515-20160513-story.html
Would Corporate Tax Cut Benefits Ever Reach the Middle Class?
Would Corporate Tax Cut Benefits Ever Reach the Middle Class? By now you’ve likely heard that President Trump wants to cut the nation’s corporate tax rate from its current 35 percent to 15 percent. Congress is on board with cutting the rate, but the agreement on this plan stops there. Not only has Congress proposed…
Top CEOs Looking for Tax Reform in a Hurry
Top CEOs Looking for Tax Reform in a Hurry We are almost five months into this new presidency and the nation is still waiting for tax reform. However, it appears that many people, including congressional lawmakers, are more worried about issues other than the country’s tax code. There are some, though, that want change, and…
The Principles Behind Trump’s Big Tax Reform Plan
The Principles Behind Trump’s Big Tax Reform Plan After months of promises and speculation, not to mention a never-ending supply of political rhetoric, the new presidential administration finally released its plan for tax reform, titled “2017 Tax Reform for Economic Growth and American Jobs.” So how big is it? If you believe the National Economic…
Should Top Earners Pay Over-the-Top Taxes?
Should Top Earners Pay Over-the-Top Taxes? It’s a debate almost as old politics: should the nation’s wealthiest earners pay more in taxes simply because they earn more money? People on either side of the debate make strong arguments for both sides and they are very passionate about their beliefs. While those on the left side…