Washington State does not have a state income tax. Instead, they have a high sales tax - starting at 6.5% for the state with more depending on the greed needs of the individual county and city in question. Bellingham is 8.7%
There have been calls to implement a state income tax but they have always been shouted down as we already get a lot of revenus from the sales tax adn if more money is needed, the state sould manage itself better.
This odious little bit of legislation just shoved its nose under the tent - from The Seattle Times:
Seattle City Council approves income tax on the wealthy
The Seattle City Council unanimously approved an income tax on wealthy residents Monday, a move widely expected to draw a quick legal challenge.
The measure applies a 2.25 percent tax on total income above $250,000 for individuals and above $500,000 for married couples filing their taxes together.
“Seattle should serve everyone, not just rich folks,” software developer Carissa Knipe told the council before the 9-0 vote, saying she makes $171,000 per year.
The problem is that this sets a prescident and it will be that much easier to have both a large sales tax and an added income tax. A bit more:
Opponents have argued the tax would violate state law and the state constitution, while proponents have said it would make Seattle’s tax structure more fair and they want to test the legality of taxing income.
Neither Washington nor any city in the state now collects an income tax. That’s partly why the state’s tax system has been called the most regressive in the country, meaning people with less money pay a much greater percentage of what they have.
The system we have is very fair - people who do not make that much money are not buying expensive items and they are not paying that sales tax. People who are wealthy are buying expensive cars, boats, houses, etc... and pay their fair share. It is a use tax and not an income tax.
From the proponents:
Under the legislation sponsored by council members Lisa Herbold and Kshama Sawant, money from the tax could be used by the city to lower property taxes and other regressive taxes; address homelessness; provide affordable housing, education and transit; replace federal funding lost through budget cuts; create green jobs and meet carbon-reduction goals; and administer the tax.
Of course this will happen - the city of Seattle will lower property taxes. Riiiight and I have some oceanside property in Colorado you might be interested. The pigs are flying over Seattle tonight.
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