State Tax Burdens Jump Across the Nation

[deadparrot]

WASHINGTON - Every state but one collected more taxes per person in 2004 than it did a decade earlier, according to newly released data from the Census Bureau.

State taxpayer burdens increased by an average of 41 percent from 1994 to 2004. Only Alaska saw the amount it collects per person decline.

Even when the numbers are adjusted for inflation, the individual tax burdens increased in 43 states.

Hawaiians paid the most to state government — an average of $3,050 per person in 2004. Texans paid the least — an average of $1,368.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060208/ap_on_re_us/state_taxes

[ceile]

1. I paid the least, huh?

Not like I'd see any improvement or services restored if I DID pay more, but still......where did it go?

[Crazy Dave]

2. Bush gave everyone back a dime...

...so the states could take away a dollar.

[meti57b]

3. It hits blue states especially hard.

[jwirr]

5. Blue states have tried to make up for the fed cuts.

[phusion]

4. If this accompanied a decrease in federal taxation

I would be happy. I'd rather my money go to the state...

But, of course, fed taxes have probably risen over the last decade too.

[leesa]

6. Gee...now why would that be...any ideas, STUPID REPUBLICANS?????

[1932]

7. And it isn't corporations paying those taxes. The burden is born by

the poor and the middle class.

[PVK]

8. Who daily get to try to spare their axles avoiding the POTHOLES.

There apparently is NO money to fix the roads.

[Army]

9. I Don't Know

The top 50% of wage earners pay 96% of all taxes. The top 25% pay 84% and the top 1% pay 34% according to the IRS, and the percentage for the top 1% is growing. I'm not a fan of higher federal tax rates. I think the people with the money just figure out a way around it and thatis what hurts the rest of us.

I'll bet those percentages would be even higher with a flat tax and an exemption for those under a certain income level.

I know, I know, it will never happen, but without the loopholes that are now there the system would be more fair

[1932]

11. At no point do wealthiest pay equivalent to or greater than the wealth

they control in taxes.

The top 1% of individuals own something like 90% of all equity in American corporations (the dividends and long term capital gains from which are only taxed at 15% -- half the rate working people pay on earned income!). They control more than 34% of the wealth of America, yet they only pay 34% of the taxes. Corporations are the wealthiest entities in America, and the largest pay no taxes. Many get tax credits that make them net RECIPIENTS from the public purse, notwithstanding huge profits (if they were working people, they'd pay over 30% on that income).

The top 50% of wage earners, by the way, excludes children, non-working spouses, college and graduate students and the retired. So saying that 50% of Americans contribute 4% of the tax base isn't saying much at all about who's bearing the income tax burden. 50% of Americans are barely in the work force, regardless of whether they're in the permanent underclass or in a transition stage to great wealth (there are a lot of medical, law and MBA students and students-to-be, and people living off trust funds who would fall into that bottom 50%/4% tax contribution category).

As for flat taxes, what I wrote above is an implicit criticism of flat taxes. Do you want me to make my point explicitly?

[radfringe]

10. it's trickle down

bush cuts taxes -means less money going back to states who have to raise taxes and less money goes to cities/towns who then have to raise taxes and that means we peons have to pay more taxes

see? trickle down does work