Is your state tax-friendly?

Stateline.org ^ | APRIL 28, 2005 | Kathleen Murphy

[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.

[An American Patriot]

Of late, whenever I happen so see something like this (be it taxes, gun control, pro-death legislation, anti-smoking regulations, school vouchers, pro-euthenasia, etc., ad nauseum) I have taken to comparing the politcal "climate" in said states and my reaction, most of the time (as in this case) is:

(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

[raybbr]

READ MY TAG—--20 DAYS AND A WAKEUP

What tag? Where do you live?

[steveegg]

They don't include local taxes, which makes certain tax hells (like WisTAXsin) seem a bit less of a tax hell.

The Tax Foundation (of Tax Freedom Day fame) does.

[steveegg]

Tags don't show up when one posts an article.

[An American Patriot]

What tag? Where do you live?

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

[patton]

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The requested URL /taxfreedomday/ was not found on this server.


Apache/1.3.26 Ben-SSL/1.48 Server at www.taxfoundation.org Port 80

[An American Patriot]

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."

[steveegg]

Interesting. Apparently the Tax Foundation doesn't like outside links. Try the main page, then scroll down to "America Celebrates Tax Freedom Day® on April 17".

[raybbr]

I wish I could leave Connecticut which usually at or near the top of these lists.

Good luck to you!.

[steveegg]

Just one of those quirks of the system (4+ years still makes me a "newbie", so don't sweat it).

[bobjam]

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.

[An American Patriot]

"I wish I could leave Connecticut which usually at or near the top of these lists.

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!!

[deaconblues]

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.

[cgbg]

The day I retire I am leaving Connecticut and moving to West Texas.

I hope thousands of baby boomers join us and send the CT economy into a permanent and fatal tailspin.

I also hope that all the Texas congresscritters will make sure and vote "no" when bankrupt CT tries to get federal aid to bail them out of years of stupidity.

[grannylinedancer]

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.

[An American Patriot]

"These "statistics" are misleading.

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.

[ncphinsfan]

"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?!

[cgbg]

1% local tax on sale of house

Thanks for the info, even if it is bad news.

I do want to budget correctly. :-)

[An American Patriot]

"The day I retire I am leaving Connecticut and moving to West Texas."

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.

[HostileTerritory]

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.

Delaware's on the blue state list. Also, I fear for the future of Colorado and Nevada (although not New Hampshire, ironically, because I think local allegiances and anti-Texan feeling came into play.)