Georgia Senate plans to reduce or cut out income tax (Atlanta: credit, how much)

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaLakeSearch

I also like how it gets the tax evaders.

If you are referring to sales taxes, it does not. People can just buy their goods from the "Black Market" and not pay taxes.

[fzx]

Although I would like to see some income tax reduction, I am wondering how we can balance the defict of future state revenue. Unlike TX, we do not have oil money, neither do we have the beaches to attract tourism in FL. Sales tax in metro Atlanta is already 6-8% range. Do you think we can go higher without pushing local shoppers away? If CA is under due to its Democratic agenda, GA will put itself at risk for its extreme Republic ideology.

[GeorgiaLakeSearch]

Originally Posted by jsvh

If you are referring to sales taxes, it does not. People can just buy their goods from the "Black Market" and not pay taxes.

When I have been in Florida the Publixs seem to be doing well. They also have higher property taxes in nonincome taxed states. Can you tell me about the "black market" of RE property taxes? They do not exist.

[K-SawDude]

Originally Posted by arjay57

And why punish people for working?

Why do you assume that taxes are a form of punishment?

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaLakeSearch

When I have been in Florida the Publixs seem to be doing well. They also have higher property taxes in nonincome taxed states. Can you tell me about the "black market" of RE property taxes? They do not exist.

Florida's sales tax is in the 6-8% range like GA and the state does not collect property tax (but local municipalities do). But yes I agree that property taxes are hard to dodge, probably even more so than income taxes. Are you now suggesting that Georgia collect property taxes instead of an income tax? This bill only focuses on switching from income to a sales tax.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by K-SawDude

Why do you assume that taxes are a form of punishment?

I don't.

But consider this sitaution. You've got two able bodied men. One of them gets up every day and busts his tail to make a living and support his family and community. He doesn't get any checks from the government.

The other one lays around smoking dope and drinking and having babies he doesn't support while drawing a check paid out of public funds.

The one who works gets docked for a tidy portion of the fruits of his labor. However, he keeps on chugging because he knows that if he doesn't work he and his family and his whole community suffer.

The guy who doesn't work isn't paying in a dime yet he knows his check(s) will be there every month. Maybe his family which he is not taking care of gets checks, too.

My question is which behaviors are we incentivizing and which ones are we punishing?

[BobKovacs]

OK...so if we eliminate income tax (or sales tax, for that matter), what spending are we going to cut to make up for the loss of revenue? That's the part no one ever seems to consider when they start talking about cutting taxes.

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by arjay57

My question is which behaviors are we incentivizing and which ones are we punishing?

Now we are talking about something separate. This issue is often over stated and dramatized. But yes, no one should be rewarded for not having a job.

[AnsleyPark]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaLakeSearch

I agree. Many people from the NE go down to Florida for vacations and the stores in Palm Beach, Miami, etc. are always packed. (They also own many of the condos and houses so... the higher property taxes do not seem to affect their real estate market.)

I also like how it gets the tax evaders.

I seriously doubt that Georgia's sales / income tax structure has anything to do with folks on vacation in Miami spending money.

[AnsleyPark]

Alright folks - the state has to have a revenue source....