Posted on 05/07/2005 5:25:06 AM PDT by An American Patriot
Residents of Hawaii, Wyoming and Connecticut shoulder the heaviest state tax burdens in the nation. The least state taxes per person are paid by those living in Texas, South Dakota or Colorado, U.S. Census figures for 2004 show. The tax burden is important because it helps determine a state's business climate, carves a hole into taxpayers' wallets and influences individual decisions on where to live. The tax burden weighs so heavily in some states that people have called the moving van to escape to a lower-tax state.
(Excerpt) Read more at stateline.org ...
(Gomer Pile: on) SURPRISE! SURPRISE! (GOMER PYLE: off)
Of the TOP 10 states with the HEAVIEST tax burden, only ONE (Wyoming) is a red state.
Conversely, of the 10 states with the LIGHTEST tax burden, only N.H.(which as an aberation, or more than likely, is on its way to becoming Blue as a result of all the Taxachusetts residents moving to southern N.H., coupled with many "Sandernistas"--Bernie Sanders' "progessives"--moving from here--Vermont--to northern N.H) is a Blue State.
http://www.census.gov/govs/statetax/04staxrank.html
"The tax burden weighs so heavily in some states that people have called the moving van to escape to a lower-tax state."
AS FOR ME I'VE HAD IT WITH THIS SOCIALIST-GULAG-STATE.
READ MY TAG—--20 DAYS AND A WAKEUP
What tag? Where do you live?
The Tax Foundation (of Tax Freedom Day fame) does.
Tags don't show up when one posts an article.
Sorry about that. Thought it was on there.
A native of and soon to be, ex-Vermonter.
TAGLINE: "GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME"-- the opportunity to get the Hell out of here! Bye Bye VT- Hello, VA
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Tags don't show up when one posts an article.
Thanks for info. Less than a year, (or is it 10? LOL) still makes me a "newbie."
Good luck to you!.
Just one of those quirks of the system (4+ years still makes me a "newbie", so don't sweat it).
By dividing the total amount collected by the state population in order to get the amount of tax per person and then comparing, the survey does not take into account tax revenues collected from non-residents. This pushes states such as Florida, which relies heavily on sales tax revenue from tourists, towards the top of the list.
Good luck to you!.
Thanks. My Mom (who I was helping support and taking care of) passed in January and that's why I've had to stay. Now, that I'm free to go, there is NOTHING that would keep me here.
Have seen this state (as is the case with many others) go from a fairly conservative one (when I was growing up here in the 50's) to an extremely, liberal (bordering on socialistic) one--mostly due to the influx of "flat landers" (led by--and influenced considerably with his advent into politics--Bernie Sanders) in the 70's and 80's.
Of interest, with your remark about Ct., (where I was born, by the way) is in looking at the chart, New England States (Ct., Mass., and Vt) make up 1/3 of the top 10 most heavily taxed states.
If you take the top 16, then 5 of the 6 New England States (excluding only N.H.) are in the mix!!
These "statistics" are misleading. They assume that the taxes on mineral extraction (severance tax) are borne by individuals in each state, when as in Wyoming's case, (a state rich in natural resources), they are borne by the company doing the mining. If that is factored out, then Wyoming's ranking drops from 2nd to very near the bottom of the list with per capita taxes in the range of $1,500 annually.
We lived in Illinois (property tax $4,000), then Michigan (taxes $5,000)before being transferred to East Tennessee (property tax $1200). It was like going to heaven! These taxes were on the same size home, but in TN it was on a full 1 1/2 acre of property opposed to a city lot. No State income tax in TN either. Wonderful climate, great people, no crime (Johnson City). Would have stayed there to retire if there had been more offered in the way of golf. Moved to FL and are very happy, but taxes are higher than TN...pretty hard to find a better place financially than that state.
I don't doubt that.
I can imagine that there are many other "variables" which are not included or factored into the equation.
I'm a small business owner and Vermont is not only heavily taxed, but has an anti-business climate/attitude, as well.
Furthermore, it is NOT only a matter of "taxation" which is leading me to move--it is the ENTIRE overall political climate and mindset in this state which is overwhelming and an anathema to a conservative like myself.
I (and I speak for myself and not the other 8 conservatives here in Vermont LOL) believe that my vote is simply an exercise in futility anymore.
Vermont is the ONLY state, in which President Bush, actually got LESS votes in 04, then in 2000.
"The day I retire I am leaving Connecticut and moving to West Texas."
Did just that but chose North Carolina, instead. Property taxes, annual automobile taxes plus state income taxes were just killers. One unpleasant surprise you should be aware of, however, is that upon the sale of your Ct. home you will likely have to pay a 1% township real estate tax. This came as a total surprise to us and was not in our budget. 1% for leaving?!
Spent a year (Bergstrom AFB) in Austin (1967-68) when I got back from Nam.
Loved it, and all of Texas.
Unfortunately, (from what I have read--and not surprising--Austin being a "college town") it, is now also a liberal enclave.
"I hope thousands of baby boomers join us and send the CT economy into a permanent and fatal tailspin."
That is one of the reasons I posted this article. Perhaps those who are going to be retiring (or simply inclined and in a position to move) will consider this one of the key factors in deciding where to relocate?
If "we" conservatives, vote with our "feet," it could have a significant impact on the landscape of political changes--much as it has in the past as outlined in my previous comments whereby Vermont (and quite a few other states) went from being conservative to liberal with the influx of so many "libs/dims" in the 70's and 80's.
Not for long in Texas. The Texas Republican Party is creeping to the left. New taxes, fees, and fines. The elected officials in session at the Enchanted Rock, in Austin, are spending like drunk sailors.
The stats are bogus. They have $2600 for Massachusetts and $1600 for Georgia, however, as a percentage of per capita income the Tax Foundation says that the two states pay roughly the same rate. In fact, Georgia's tax burden is slightly heavier.
Massachusetts pays more in taxes because we make more as individuals. Our tax rates are in the middle of the pack.
What area did you decide to live in North Carolina?
We are also thinking about a retirement move.
Michigan is trying real hard to become the worst state in the union.
The state has the highest corporate tax burden in the nation, said the Tax Foundation. And in spite of the high taxes, Michigan lost tax revenue in 2004, only one or two states to do so.
Michigan ranked dead last in creating new jobs in 2004, losing 45,000, and is near the bottom in income growth, reports the Wall Street Journal.
Our socialist loving governor, Jennifer Granholm, is pressing ahead with a European style tax boondoggle that will heap huge tax breaks on the big three automakers, while passing extra taxes onto retailers, professional services, wholesalers and thousands of small businesses.
Granholm, who’s punished the state with the nation’s highest unemployment rate, is following the playbook of European socialist leaders by picking tax winners and losers.
BTW, she's good buddies with hillary.
I see Ohio is the number 9 tax hell. Not surprising. Still wondering what we get for all the money this throwback to a depression-era economy hoovers out of our wallets.
Awful schools (unless you live in a very wealthy enclave), poorly educated low-tech workforce, business-hostile climate with businesses leaving or dropping like flies, antiquated tax code with "city" taxes that amount to taxation without representation, lousy roads given the high gasoline taxes, RINOs running the Statehouse, DeWine, Taft, Voinovich, etc, etc.
And the icing on the cake is you get to see the sun 3 days per year. Yippee.
At one time the license plates said, "Ohio. The Heart Of It All". More like, "The Horror Of It All".
A few more years until my tour of duty is up and then outta here...
This thread is a good argument for states rights, as originally intended. Let the majority of the local people choose the kind and amount of government they want and those who don't like it can move to someplace they like better. Like Social Security, it eventually becomes self-adjusting as fewer and fewer support more and more.
"The least state taxes per person are paid by those living in Texas, South Dakota or Colorado . . ."
Unless you're a property owner in Texas. In that case, prepare to shoulder more than your share of the cost for schools and government services. A redistribution of the tax burden here is long overdue.
Fed cutbacks combined with rising costs and a repub legislature that has attemped to control the growth in spending has led to the point where our infrastructure is falling apart. I like lower taxes too but its a trade off.
I live in a rural area (no prop taxes) but own property in matsu (pay prop taxes). After experiencing both places, I don't mind paying prop taxes one bit. You might not think that there's a direct correlation between revenue and quality of life but you're mistaken. When schools, medical services, roads, and just services everyone takes for granted come to a screeching halt, you ask yourself is it worth this? No joke.
We moved from Michigan in 1996 to Florida. Once in awhile my husband mentions moving back but I keep telling him we can't afford the state tax, property taxes etc. Florida is ok but has high food prices & we have to deal with loads of Democrat judges & hurricanes.
If it wasn't for my husband I would move to Missouri where at least I could have a big garden & real low property taxes. Even with a state tax it would be lower than here. Our property taxes have jumped $300 since we have been here. Everytime there is an increase in Social Security benefits all the electricity, cable, water etc. companies increase their rates which ends up more expense than the dang SS increase. I think people will continue to move from state to state to find lower costs & taxes.
We have a modest 4% sales tax which is calculated to 4.167% since retailers remit to the state 4% of the total sale, i.e. sale plus tax.
Food, drugs and periodicals are taxable. Collected taxes are taxable.
There's talk of raising the state sales tax.
The Hawaii state motto is "Ua mau ke ea o ka aina ika pono" or "The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness". I am sponsoring submission of a bill to change the motto to "Ka ching!"
You need to add in county, local, and school taxes, and then normalize for per capita income before making sweeping generalizations. When that is done, I think that total non-federal tax burden is around 10 % of income for all states.
First of all, it wasn’t “I” making “sweeping generalizations;” I was merely posting what I thought was an interesting article and would (as expected) get people to begin looking at the differences in tax burdens between states.
Apparently, from your reply, you disagree and posit the inference that there is NO discernible difference between states and we "ALL" end paying approx. 10%?
You are not alone in taking exception as to the “numbers” reported.
What I suggest you (and others who disagree and are inclined to want to impute myriad of other factors that may or may not, be considered by this organization) do is communicate directly with Statelinel.org and make your case with them—not me.
I have a Masters in Business. However, Economics was never my forte, nor did I/do I have any interest in this field
Likewise, I always “hated” (and still do) statistics, but at the same time, know enough about this discipline to realize it is possible to manipulate an outcome based upon the variables inputted and types of formulas applied to the equation.
Furthermore, I seriously doubt your hypothesis is anyhwere close to being accurate, for while you want to include “county, local and school taxes,” (and I am assuming you are referring to “property taxes”) you omit so many others which necessarily would have to be considered as part of the mix.
Just to name a few factors which impact on the equation, are: (1) income tax rates (2) alcohol, tobacco and gasoline tax rates (3) corporate tax rates (4) general sales and use tax rates—if applicable—as well as what goods and services that are applicable (5) Workmen’s Comp rates (6) licensing fees, i.e., hunting, fishing, motor vehicle registration and drivers license fees, etc (7) gasoline taxes, etc., etc., etc., ad nauseum.
As you can see, there are too many other factors/variables to make this issue “simple.”
Moreover, I don’t have the time (much less any inclination) to do an in depth analysis of every little tax (hidden—such as phone, gas, electric, cable, etc.—or otherwise) which we are subjected to, but I am more than willing to wager, that regardless of WHEREVER you (meaning everyone) reside, the average tax rate for the working middle class (PER STATE) is CLOSER to 25% (added to an approx 25% Fed Tax Burden, bringing it close to and overall tax burden of 50%) and if you could prove your 10% theory, (wherever it is you live) I would venture to guess, there would be a mass stampede and imigration, the likes of which I doubt your area/state could withstand.
Hell, no!
My property taxes jumped $300 a month. In January.
We moved to Winston-Salem (Triad area- WS, Greensboro, and High Point) after studying the politics of the entire state. Asheville and Wilmington made the final three but were too liberal.
Michigan is ok to visit. In fact we have been talking about a trip to Frankenmuth for chicken dinner. I'm suprised they haven't been increasing the taxes even more. Now Detroit is trying to put a 2 cents tax on fast food. What idiots. Looks like the Democrats are really sinking the state fast in jobs, high taxes etc.
notice why I have my tagline? #4 per capita.
#12 overall.
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