November 18, 2010 08:00 AM
An
issue likely to be debated in the 2011 Missouri Legislative Session is
the proposal to replace state income tax—both individual and
corporate—with a greatly expanded sales tax. Proponents of the
legislation refer to it as the “fair tax,” but Missourians should think
twice because it is anything but.
Missourians know that if
something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. That’s exactly the
case with the proposal to make a whopping change in how the state
collects revenues. Eliminating the income tax might sound great at first
blush, but reality dictates that the revenue that would be lost has to
be made up somewhere else. Someone has to pay. And that someone is the
average Missouri family.
In fact, 95 percent of Missourians
would pay considerably more in taxes under the “fair tax." (seems kind
of strange to keep calling it that; maybe the "mega sales tax" would be a
more fitting name). How does that happen? It’s pretty simple. Missouri
would become completely reliant on a greatly expanded sales tax.
First,
the way the legislation is written, the new sales tax would apply to
nearly everything that is purchased. This includes food, prescription
medicine, new cars, even new homes. And it would also apply to all
services, like child care, nursing homes and assisted living for
seniors, doctor’s office visits, legal counseling, and financial
services, and much, much more—even funerals. No other state taxes
services to that extent. Rather than attracting businesses to Missouri,
we’d be encouraging people who live here to buy someplace
else—practically pushing them across the border.
Second, the
rate of sales tax people pay would have to go up too—a lot. That
increase would be for things now taxable and the new items. How much? The Missouri Budget Project working in partnership with the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy
calculated that sales taxes would need to be increased to 11 percent.
Yes, the legislation itself says 5 to 7 percent (compared to the 4.225
percent people pay now), but that understates how much money the state
would have to collect.
Ours isn’t the only analysis that parts company with what the legislation contends to be the rate. The nonpartisan Missouri Joint Committee on Tax Policy's
research says the state sales tax rate would be at least 10 percent
depending on which version of the legislation is analyzed. These
estimates don’t even include the local sales tax rate, which would add
an additional 2 percent. But, shhh…. fair tax supporters don’t want you
to know that.
It is clear who would bear the brunt of that
increased tax rate. Middle-income Missourians (including most seniors)
would be hit the hardest because they have to spend a higher portion of
their incomes on essential products and services.
Supporters of
this radical proposal like to point out that there are other states that
exist without income tax. That’s true. But those states collect much
more revenue from things like tourism or oil and mineral extraction
taxes than Missouri could. No state has a system like what’s proposed
for Missouri. There’s no comparison to assess the economic
ramifications.
We do know for sure, though, that Missouri’s
sales tax rate would go up dramatically. And we know that about 70
percent of our population lives in easy proximity to other states. Those
states would all have considerably lower sales tax rates and apply the
tax to fewer services. The so-called fair tax would boost economic
development all right—for Kansas, Illinois, Iowa, Oklahoma and Arkansas;
every state but Missouri.
No tax structure is perfect, and
Missouri’s definitely needs some reforms. But not the fair tax; it’s a
flawed concept that threatens Missouri’s well being. It raises taxes on
middle-income households and gives the wealthiest the biggest breaks.
Let’s look at other, tested and proven effective ways to update the
state income tax.
Amy Blouin is the Executive Director of the Missouri Budget Project, an organization dedicated to advance public policies that improve economic opportunities for all Missourians – particularly low and middle-income families – by providing reliable and objective research, public education and advocacy.
EDITORS NOTE: We have been experiencing problems with out comment application. The following two comments did not properly appear:
Does Ms. Blouin ignore the fact that Missouri just approve a Constitutional Amendment that forbids sales taxes on homes? And, it's quite interesting that all of her information is anecdotal and NONE of her links work. Please ask her to provide links to studies that support the figures she cites... ...especially the 95% of Missourians paying more taxes and 70% live within easy proximity to other states. I live in Jackson w/in 15 miles of Illinois and I certainly wouldn't drive over there for a gallon of milk or a washer and dryer.
11/18/2010 9:39:09 AM Brian Bollman, Jackson, Missouri
I'll bet Alex Rodriquez and Manny Ramirez are big supporters of the Missouri "fair" tax. They can be paid big bucks to play ball in our tax built stadiums and escape paying income tax.
11/18/2010 12:24 PM Harry Otto, Jefferson City, Missouri
The so-called fair tax would boost economic development all right—for Kansas, Illinois, Iowa, Oklahoma and Arkansas; every state but Missouri.
