Washington
The Columbian: Jayne: Possible constitutional amendment a taxing prospect
January 26, 2016 • By ITEP Staff
“Lawmakers could seize the opportunity to elevate the discussion and tweak Washington’s tax system, which has been ranked by some as the most regressive in the nation. Because the state has no income tax and is heavily reliant upon sales tax, an inordinate percentage of the tax burden lands upon poor people, and the Institute […]
The Columbian: Jayne: What is ‘fair’ when it comes to Washington taxation?
December 7, 2015 • By ITEP Staff
“According to the nonpartisan, nonprofit Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, Washington households in the lowest one-fifth of income pay 16.8 percent of their income in taxes, while the top 1 percent of earners pay 2.4 percent. Those in the 61st percentile to the 80th percentile pay 8.5 percent of their income in taxes. The […]
Low Tax for Whom?: Washington is a “Low Tax State” Overall, But Not for Families Living in Poverty
September 17, 2015 • By Meg Wiehe
Annual data from the U.S. Census Bureau appear to lend support to Washington's reputation as a "low tax state," ranking it 36th nationally in taxes collected as a share of personal income.1 But focusing on the state's overall tax revenues has led many observers to overlook the fact that different taxpayers experience Washington's tax system very differently. In particular, the poorest 20 percent of Washington residents pay significantly more of their income (16.8 percent) in state and local taxes than any other group in the state. For low-income families, Washington is far from being a low tax state.2 In fact,…
Cheat Sheet: 10 Worst States in America for Fair Tax Systems
July 13, 2015 • By ITEP Staff
Americans generally believe that higher income households should pay a greater percentage of their incomes in taxes than lower income households. Yet the exact opposite occurs. The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) finds the nationwide average effective state and local tax rates by income group are 10.9% for the poorest 20% of individuals […]
PT Leader: Taxes-Actually, Our State’s Most Unfair of All 50
June 29, 2015 • By ITEP Staff
Washington is not, as we are often led to believe, the cat’s meow when it comes to being liberal and progressive—despite its perceived leading role in a growing movement toward a 15% minimum wage. Time did not dream this all up, but was reporting on a study by the nonpartisan Institute on Taxation and Economic […]
Daily Record: Letter: State’s Tax Structure Hits the Poor the Hardest
June 15, 2015 • By ITEP Staff
Why did the recession have such a damaging effect on the state budget? Because, almost uniquely in the country, most of our state’s revenue comes from various kinds of sales tax. This causes real problems. The non-partisan Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy says Washington’s tax system is the most unfair in the entire country. […]
The Inlander: Taxes-Idaho v. Washington
February 12, 2015 • By ITEP Staff
But don’t look so smug, Washington progressives: Washington may take in more tax revenue to fund more programs than Idaho, but its tax system hits the poor far harder. The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy concluded that Washington had the most unfair tax system in the nation, with the the bottom 20 percent of […]
Washington State Budget & Policy Center: Taxing Capital Gains
February 2, 2015 • By ITEP Staff
FAQ on Enacting a Capital Gains Tax In Washington State Read the full report
Washington State Budget & Policy Center: Washington State’s Upside Down Tax System Takes A Heavy Toll On Communities Of Color
January 21, 2015 • By ITEP Staff
While most Washingtonians agree that everyone has a responsibility to help pay for schools, safe communities, health care, and other broadly shared investments that create jobs and grow the economy, the state continues to have the most upside down state and local tax system of any U.S. state, according to a new report, “Who Pays?”, […]
The Oregonian: Pity Washington’s Unhappy Legislators
January 20, 2015 • By ITEP Staff
Last week brought another complication for Washington’s tax situation, as the annual report of the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, in the other Washington, found that once again Washington has the most regressive tax structure in the country. Since Washington is so heavily dependent on the sales tax, the poorest fifth of Washingtonians pay […]
Seattle Times: Inslees Capital Gains Tax Pitch
January 20, 2015 • By ITEP Staff
“The capital-gains tax on the wealthy — even when combined with a tax credit Inslee has proposed for the state’s poorest families — would not bump Washington from its No. 1 ranking as the nation’s most regressive tax code, according to Matthew Gardner, executive director of the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, which ranks […]
Forbes: State With World’s Richest Man Has Most Regressive Taxes (But Don’t Blame Bill Gates)
January 16, 2015 • By ITEP Staff
“A new analysis of state and local taxes for 2015 shows that despite changes in Kansas and other states that have reduced taxes on the rich, Washington State continues to have the most “regressive” tax system in the country—meaning its taxes hit poor families the hardest, compared to rich ones. Overall, the bottom 20% of […]
The Stranger: National Study Confirms: “Washington State Has, by Far, the US’s Most Regressive State Tax System.”
January 16, 2015 • By ITEP Staff
A new national study from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy confirms that Washington State’s “morally bankrupt” tax system remains the worst in the nation when it comes to unfairly taxing the poor. “Washington state has, by far, the US’s most regressive state tax system, taxing the poorest residents at 16.8 percent while taxing […]
Crosscut: Washington taxes: We’re No. 1 (in abusing the poor)
January 16, 2015 • By ITEP Staff
“The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy released a new study today showing that Washington State’s tax system weighs heaviest on the poor. The non-profit Washington State Budget & Policy Center broke down the ITEP’s report, saying, “Washington state has, by far, the U.S.’s most regressive state tax system, taxing the poorest residents at 16.8 […]
Time: You’ll Never Guess Which State Has the Nation’s Most Unfair Taxes
January 15, 2015 • By ITEP Staff
“When you think of states that hurt the poor and benefit the rich, ultra-progressive Washington state probably doesn’t spring to mind. And yet, according to a new analysis, Washington’s tax system is the most regressive in the nation, placing a disproportionate burden on those with the lowest incomes. The study, published by the nonpartisan Institute […]
Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Washington tax structure is most regressive in US, study says
January 15, 2015 • By ITEP Staff
“Washington frequently basks in “Top Ten” lists of America’s most livable cities, retirement havens or best places to do business. But the Evergreen State ranks rock-bottom in a new “Terrible Ten” list of states with the nation’s most regressive tax system. According to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, the state taxes its poorest […]
Yakima Herald-Republic: Tax System Unlikely to See Overhaul This Year
January 12, 2015 • By ITEP Staff
Further, due to reliance on a relatively high sales tax, Washington has ranked as the most regressive state tax system in the nation, according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP), a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that advocates for progressive tax policies. The poorest 20 percent of state residents pay nearly 17 percent of […]
The Motley Fool: The 5 States with the Highest Sales Tax
August 20, 2014 • By ITEP Staff
By Jeremy Bowman: Nearly every state in the union charges a sales tax, and the tax levied on goods and services sold at the retail level is just one of many tools states use to collect revenue, along with licensing and taxes on income, corporations, and property. Sales taxes tend to attract less attention than […]
Puget Sound Business Journal: Replace sales tax hike with business tax to pay for transit
June 13, 2014 • By ITEP Staff
Seattle Councilmembers Nick Licata and Kshama Sawant Jun 12, 2014, 10:59am PDT Washington state has the nation’s most regressive tax structure, according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy’s (a progressive D.C.-based think tank) latest edition of “ Who Pays? A Distributional Analysis of the Tax Systems in All 50 States.” Washington state’s sales […]
Washington Budget & Policy Center: Flawed Economic Model Hurts Washington State
June 11, 2014 • By ITEP Staff
An economic model frequently cited by some Washington state lawmakers to justify their opposition to tax increases distorts the impact of tax proposals on state economies, according to a new study from the non-partisan Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP). The report makes it clear the Beacon Hill Institute’s State Tax Analysis Modeling Program […]
Seattle Times: Under the microscope
April 18, 2014 • By ITEP Staff
By Mike Lindblom While most big transit agencies in the U.S. slashed service during the recession, King County Metro Transit managed to hang on. Managers shifted a $100 million surplus from a fleet-replacement fund to keep existing buses rolling. And the agency made painful choices — raising fares, while cutting some low-use routes to cram […]
The Seattle Times: Under the microscope – Metro’s big transit vote
April 16, 2014 • By ITEP Staff
In the April 22 mail ballot, King County voters are being asked to increase their sales taxes and their car tabs to fund Metro Transit and fix roads. As the campaign enters its last week, here’s an assessment of some arguments being made on both sides. By Mike Lindblom Seattle Times transportation reporter While most […]
Washington State Budget & Policy Center: Corporate Tax Dodge Findings Show Need for Reforms in Washington State
February 27, 2014 • By ITEP Staff
Now that we know nine major corporations with operations in Washington state paid zero or less in federal corporate income taxes in recent years despite reaping huge profits, serious questions arise as to whether these corporations or others are dodging Washington state taxes too. Read the Full Report
The Capitol Hill Times: Raise the wage? Seattle’s income battle is a quagmire with options
December 12, 2013 • By ITEP Staff
12:06 am December 12th, 2013 by Tyler Mangrum – The Capitol Hill Times – Following the slim victory of a SeaTac measure raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour, the labor organizations that helped push forward the initiative took aim at northern King County and the City of Seattle in a march from SeaTac […]
The Huffington Post: Biggest Tax Break In U.S. History May Not Be Enough For Boeing
November 18, 2013 • By ITEP Staff
(Original Post) Posted: 11/15/2013 3:56 pm EST | Updated: 11/17/2013 5:40 pm EST Jillian Berman Earlier this week, the legislature in Washington state agreed to give Boeing $8.7 billion in tax breaks through 2040 in an attempt to convince the company to locate production of a new jetliner fleet in the state. It’s believed to […]
