So-Called Temporary Recession Tax Not So Temporary
Remember the great recession of 2009? Although the recession may now be a thing of the past, some so-called “temporary” taxes are having a harder time fading into the background. That’s because many states throughout the country are still collecting on tax bills that were enacted solely for the purpose of refilling public reserves.
Fourteen states and the District of Columbia imposed 25 new measures during the recession years of 2008 – 2011. So what’s the status of those measures now that the recession is over? Good question. Nine of them have expired on schedule, while three more have yet to reach their termination date.
So what about the other 13? They have all been extended, replaced or in some cases they’ve even been made permanent. For example, in Connecticut, a 10 percent “temporary” corporate income surtax has been renewed twice and has also jumped up to 20 percent. In Kansas, lawmakers imposed a sales and excise tax from 5.7 percent to 6.3 percent then lowered the tax to 6.15 percent, but also made it permanent.
In New York, the state took direct aim at one income group by imposing a tax hike on the rich. They upped the ante even more by imposing a second “temporary” hike on the even richer. That increase is set to expire in 2017 and will impose an 8.82 percent top rate on anyone with income more than $2 million.
The bottom line is if you live in a state that increased taxes for some “temporary” help with the recession, then don’t hold your breath if you’re expecting those measures to disappear anytime soon.
Will Taxing the Rich Even More Improve Inequality?
Will Taxing the Rich Even More Improve Inequality? It’s been the cry of democratic lawmakers and many of the less fortunate for years: “We need to tax the wealthy even more.” “The rich have to pay their fair share of taxes, too.” The problem is the rich already pay a huge portion of the country’s…
It Pays to Be Rich for These Five Tax Breaks
It Pays to Be Rich for These Five Tax Breaks Although it’s true that the ultra-wealthy are heavily taxed, and in many cases unfairly, there are also some tax break advantages that favor the upper class more than those in the middle. Let’s take a look at some of these breaks. Most common and first…
New Jersey Governor Says Enough is Enough on Taxing the Wealthy
New Jersey Governor Says Enough is Enough on Taxing the Wealthy It seems that no tax is a bad tax when it comes to the “left” side of the government. It’s a well-known fact that the wealthiest Americans pay the largest portion of the country’s taxes. However, there are some government leaders that lean “right”…
Clinton’s Using Careful Strategies to Avoid Tax They Support
Clinton’s Using Careful Strategies to Avoid Tax They Support Have you ever wondered what wealthy democrats do when tax laws they support and vote for come back to apply to them? Although people typically associate being wealthy with republicans, there are plenty of rich democrats in the nations’ capitol as well. So just what do…