New report: Washington Businesses Account for 58 Percent of State and Local Tax Collections
In a new report, we look at recent publications from the Council On State Taxation and the Tax Foundation. Briefly: Nationally, business tax revenues were up 2.2 percent in 2014. Washington state’s total effective business tax rate (TEBTR) rose to 5.4 percent in 2014. State and local governments tax Washington businesses an average of $7,700 […]
December 16 , 2015 - Mary Strow
December 14 , 2015 - Mary Strow
December 10 , 2015 - Mary Strow
November 24 , 2015 - Emily Makings
A new challenge to I-1366
As expected, a lawsuit has been filed in King County Superior Court questioning the constitutionality of I-1366. Voters approved the initiative earlier this month (51.5 percent to 48.5 percent). Generally voters are allowed to vote on initiatives, even if there's a strong chance the initiative will be declared unconstitutional later. In a pre-election lawsuit, a King County Superior […]
November 19 , 2015 - Mary Strow
November 18 , 2015 - Lew Moore
Talking on Your Cell Phone: A Sin?
Washington state residents now pay the highest wireless user taxes in the country. A staggering statewide average of 18.69% (consisting of state and local taxes), combined with the added federal tax rate of 6.46%, gives Washingtonians the only wireless tax rate above 25% in the nation. Reaching for that cell phone may not be as […]
November 12 , 2015 - Emily Makings
Supreme Court's reasoning on I-1366 illustrates its complexity
In September, the state Supreme Court allowed Initiative 1366 to be on the ballot (it's currently leading 51.79 percent to 48.21 percent). Today the Court released its reasoning. It argues that, because of the two stated options in the initiative (sales tax cut or two-thirds majority constitutional amendment), the true purpose of the initiative is unclear. A King […]
November 10 , 2015 - Mary Strow
Aerospace tax incentives work
WRC President Lew Moore spoke to Seattle's KIRO TV yesterday about the benefits of Boeing and aerospace industry tax incentives for Washington state. In response to union criticism about 777X tax incentives originally approved in 2003 and extended by the Legislature and governor in 2013, Lew stressed that they are working: "The incentive was passed in 2003," said Moore. […]
November 05 , 2015 - Mary Strow