[So Cal Rocket]

Not constitutional to make sales tax deductable in some states and not in others - per the Equal Protection clause.

[Wneighbor]

I agree with ya. Tax is tax. All should get the deduction.

[ClintonBeGone]

Not constitutional to make sales tax deductable in some states and not in others - per the Equal Protection clause.

More reason to move to florida.

[AndyJackson]

Equal Protection clause

Yeah. I live in DC. We have a high income tax. City residents are compensated for this by paying high property taxes AND high sales taxes.

[tellw]

Not constitutional to make sales tax deductable in some states and not in others - per the Equal Protection clause.

So extend the tax break to all states with a sales tax?

[BearCub]

Not constitutional to make sales tax deductable in some states and not in others - per the Equal Protection clause

States without state income tax have higher sales tax and property tax to compensate. Is state income tax deductible?

[cherry]

sorry....my taxes have been wrongly higher because I can't write off any state taxes, which are plentiful....

you ever hear of the word "fair"...

George Nethercutt has been pushing for this for years....

[Texas Federalist]

Not constitutional to make sales tax deductable in some states and not in others - per the Equal Protection clause.

Perhaps, but I think a decent argument can be made to the contrary since states with no income tax do not benefit from the tax law allowing state income tax to be deducted. It will see the courts though, no doubt.

[Bikers4Bush]

It all depends on whether or not their sales taxes are that much higher than the states that do have state income taxes.

[Dog Gone]

Not constitutional to make sales tax deductable in some states and not in others - per the Equal Protection clause.

That's not so. Taxpayers are treated unequally all across the tax code.

[JrAsparagus]

Hey, don't rain on my parade!!!

lol

[Fledermaus]

I think the arguement (and I'd like to see if this was addressed in the law) is that it's not equal to let 44 states that have an income tax deduct their main revenue tax but not the six other states just because they don't have an income tax.

But I see the problems in a court with this. I don't want to let every state deduct sales taxes since it, like consumer interest, was a major pillar in Reagan's tax simplification. In exchange for really, really lower rates you lost deductions. It also eliminates the social engineering aspects when deductions become a special interest ala home mortgages today.

I'd rather have NO deductions for ANY state taxes in exchange for lower federal income tax rates.

[Boss_Jim_Gettys]

"Not constitutional to make sales tax deductable in some states and not in others - per the Equal Protection clause."

Agreed. State/local jurisdictions grab your money with a combination of income, property and sales tax. If your state uses property and sales tax only, then 100% of your tax burden is now deductible. If your state uses all three, then only the income and property tax is deductible.

The rule should be that ALL of these taxes are deductible for ALL residents of ALL states.

[avenuesalan]

The way the new sales tax deduction works is that you will be allowed to choose to take EITHER the state income tax deduction OR the state sales tax deduction, but not both. Therefore, as a practical matter it will mainly help people in the states that have a sales tax but no income tax. But it is technically constitutional because the rule is applied equally in all the states.