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.