Because right-wing propagandists have convinced morons that sales taxes hurt OTHER people, while income taxes hurt THEM.
I fucking hate these idiots.
Note the fair tax has specific measures in place to stop this type of exploitation by creating sales tax exemptions for all necessary goods and services. (Food meds gas ECT) and that was supposed to be offset by heavier taxs on luxuries and no exemption for businesses buying essentials. Republicans seem to have as usual. Cut the good part and enshitified what was supposed to be a more equitable result.
Sales Tax is inherently regressive. And is much easier to remove the deductions and exemptions from than an Income Tax.
Some governments try to make their sales tax less regressive by exempting certain necessities from it.
For example, my state taxes groceries, but exempts gun safes.
I really like the idea of gun safes being exempt! Storage requirements is a thing I’m all about.
Food and medicine, including hygiene products, should be exempt everywhere. Florida doesn’t tax those things, nor do we have a state income tax, and I’m pretty sure the government is well funded.
The least regressive jurisdictions are DC, Minnesota, Vermont, New York and California.
Note that those are also generally desirable places to live, so rich people live there anyway, making the whole ‘they’ll just move if taxes are high’ argument bullshit.
It’s crazy how fast the California tax rate scales as you make more. The difference between like 50k, 100k, 150k and 200k alone is wild. Each step the rate scales so fast
It is wild that California has 5 steps to $66,295. After that the groupings are huge. Very interesting.
Yeah the tax rate scales up so fast
Translation: “WAAAHHHH I’m only making 35K more!!!”
Taxes are not free of side effects
True. Those side effects being things like Health Care, Roads, Schools, First Responders, etc…
Unfortunately, California is facing a massive budget deficit and cuts to all those programs due to people moving away
Yup. The folks that over relied upon office building taxes are indeed learning they should have seen it coming. Your point remains irrelevant however as those services shall still exist in CA while still not existing in TX.
The state doesn’t rely on office building taxes
I’m sure it’ll trickle down. Eventually. One of these days.
Benjamin Franklin: Kill meeee…
I’d love for Washington to not have to rely on a regressive sales tax but it would take a constitutional amendment to be able to do an income tax.
I’m curious about more specific numbers for Washington. I live in the Seattle area, make “good for working class” money, something like 25-30% of my income goes to tax, and we don’t even have state income tax. Do people making less pay like 50% taxes, if so is that all federal based, is the group of people they’re talking about just so far above my income level I’m not grasping it?
https://smartasset.com/taxes/washington-paycheck-calculator#SpXkRlFJKS
I’ve found this website pretty accurate. It also breaks down income and fica etc
Washington is pretty easy since no state income taxes
To answer your question. As you make more, each addition amount is taxed a little more. So rich people and poor people pay the same rate on their first $50k, but rich people will pay higher rates on each check after 50k . There are several of these brackets and the. They kinda work like a step function.
Some of the taxes are “voluntary,” meaning people are buying cigarettes, lottery, alcohol, (above average) gasoline etc.
If you and Bezos each buy a pack of cigarettes, your “tax rate” is higher. The poorest people can sometimes lower their tax rate significantly.
So poor people don’t deserve stress relief or personal transportation.
Got it.
What I don’t understand is how some states charge the same excise tax rate on stop smoking aids that they do on cigarettes and vapes. For example, California’s is like 25% at least, and I think that’s the lowest of the states with the excise tax on “tobacco.” I thought the whole point of taxation was to get people to quit? But it’s only on stuff like Zyn and One pouches, Rogue gum, etc. which are tobacco free, while Nicorette as a brand seems to be exempt from excise tax. Their products are exactly the same, but twice as expensive and work half as well. It’s also counterproductive to have to go to vape shops to buy nicotine gum and pouches because California has made it impossible to get them shipped. Obviously getting people to quit is not the real goal.
Indeed. The goal is to punish poor people. California is not progressive. It’s liberal. There’s a big difference. They believe you can be gay, but God help you if you’re poor.
