[Tujuleez1]

The lack of income taxes could have been done to attract retirees. When you are on a fixed income your buying power decreases every day, so you have to watch your money.

But when you get to Florida, you find many things are more expensive as a result of no income tax and in the end it isn't such a great deal. It just seems like it at tax time.

I lived in Illinois for 64 years. When I retired I found there are no state income taxes on retirement income. Now THAT made a difference.

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by Lyndarn

Just maybe I am naive...But how can any STATE provide services IF not funded by the Tax Payer?/ How do they pay LE or Firefighters..or fix roads..provide educations and so on?..Are they actually existing on Federal Fundings?? and nothing more????

For those that truly hate Income tax...I kind of wonder when you can complain for LACK of services then?? It's a mystery to me..really..Lifestyle and sense of feeling protected should be something any Citizen "Should expect" yet somehow not willing to pay for that security seems rather silly and looking for a handout..which is a constant drumbeat by Conservatives..wanting Government to STAY they Hell out of their lives ..UNTIL THEY NEED THEM..

Kind of makes me wonder just they truly believe in the whole scheme of things?? Freebee's..47% takers..and the makers don't want to contribute so they can BLAME those nasty takers...Yikes!!

NO STATE Income Tax means..only Sales Tax and Federal Funding pays for any services/infrastructure and who knows whittles a STATE needs....I'm truly confused??

Could someone kindly explain How their STATE gets funded IF not from STATE taxes?? TYIA

Property taxes, sales tax, business taxes. I live in TN and look to retire to FL. I grew up in CA and lived most of my life there. No State income tax helps control the State's spending a LOT. The needed money is there, stupid pet projects are not. Jobs are a problem everywhere, so a lack of a State income tax is equivalent to a 4 to 10% raise in pay. I will take that any day. All States have problems but the no Income States seem to be doing well over all compared to those with State Income taxes. Must be a good reason why, so why mess that up.

[chaseo1]

Originally Posted by expatCA

so a lack of a State income tax is equivalent to a 4 to 10% raise in pay.

I have never read anything more untrue in my entire life.

[jean_ji]

Originally Posted by expatCA View Post
so a lack of a State income tax is equivalent to a 4 to 10% raise in pay.

Originally posted by chase01
I have never read anything more untrue in my entire life.

It can be true depending on what state you are coming from, to any non-income tax state.

DH took a position within his company from working in NY To FL three years ago. No more paying the full annual 6.65% NY state income tax.

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by chaseo1

I have never read anything more untrue in my entire life.

Really?

OK take your pay in CA and add back the State Income Tax taken out and how much more do you have to spend?

When I left CA for TN my income did not change BUT my total spendable spendable income, after no State Income Tax, Lower property tax (Same value home, same age and on 1/2 acre instead of 6000 sq ft), lower Utilities, Lower Car registration ( 6 cars) and insurance, etc was .... very close to $20,000. Just the savings on State income tax was thousands of dollars (6 figure income).

[chaseo1]

Originally Posted by expatCA

Really?

OK take your pay in CA and add back the State Income Tax taken out and how much more do you have to spend?

Ha implying your are going to FIND jobs that are equivalent in CA,NY,TX etc and if so they arent paying more.

Florida's average wage is 12-14% below the national average guy.

Did you factor in auto insurance, flood insurance, hurricane insurance, sinkhole insurance, sales taxes, property taxes etc?

k then

[Spring Hillian]

Originally Posted by blueherons

I'm not trying to argue with you but the last figures I read from the Governors office said we had a record 100 million visitors in 2014 and were on pace to beat that in 2015. If I can find it I'll link it.

Just trying to make your point stronger

Thanks for the update. 100M. That's a lot of people and $$ for our state. FL has been in the tourist trade since the late 1800's and has been very successful in improving that trend. It has created thousands and thousands of jobs from highly paid executives to the low paid (and generally unskilled) support staffs.

A lot of Disney employees get a decent salary but they are educated professionals.

The Walt Disney Company Employer Salary, Average Salaries by Job | PayScale

[jean_ji]

Originally Posted by chaseo1

Ha implying your are going to FIND jobs that are equivalent in CA,NY,TX etc and if so they arent paying more.

Florida's average wage is 12-14% below the national average guy.

Did you factor in auto insurance, flood insurance, hurricane insurance, sinkhole insurance, sales taxes, property taxes etc?

k then

NY Sales tax 8.125%, FL 7% (in our area of the states)

Car insurance is $200 more a year in FL for me, DH drives a company car

Home insurance is almost double in FL with wind/flood

Property tax in FL is 1/3 of our NY property tax

On Sperling's Best Places cost of living index, with the U.S. average being 100, our NY area is 131 and our FL area is 99.

Yes, we factored it all; we are ahead with lower COL without even adding in the increase from no income tax in take home pay. FL is a big plus for us with no state income tax.

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by chaseo1

Ha implying your are going to FIND jobs that are equivalent in CA,NY,TX etc and if so they arent paying more.

Florida's average wage is 12-14% below the national average guy.

Did you factor in auto insurance, flood insurance, hurricane insurance, sinkhole insurance, sales taxes, property taxes etc?

k then

It depends on many factors. The ones you list do not impact the costs anymore than they do in CA which also does have flooding issues and has FEMA flood zone issues. The sales tax is also lower in FL than in CA. Housing is also less expensive even at the beach than in CA, so property taxes are equal or lower, CA gas cost is way higher.

I just looked at a house 3/4 blocks from a very nice beach on the Atlantic in a popular area.

5 bed 3.5 bath 3494 sq ft, a nursery that could be a 6th bedroom, and an over sized 2 car garage For Sale
$450,000

17 Greenwood Ln, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931 | Zillow


This was a higher priced house as well. Smaller ones that near the beach can be had for under $300,000.00 Try that in CA.

Now a comparable home in CA would cost what?????? The property taxes would be what?????? Insurance would be what???? Where near any beach in So Cal could you buy a house like that for the same price??????

As to average wages:

CA:
$62,000.00

Salary in California | Indeed.com

Now in FL:

$54,000

Salary in Florida | Indeed.com

That $8000.00 is eaten up real quick in income tax, housing cost and property tax and much much more.

[Spring Hillian]

Originally Posted by chaseo1

Ha implying your are going to FIND jobs that are equivalent in CA,NY,TX etc and if so they arent paying more.

Florida's average wage is 12-14% below the national average guy.

Did you factor in auto insurance, flood insurance, hurricane insurance, sinkhole insurance, sales taxes, property taxes etc?

k then

12-14% below the average is paid to the large pool of uneducated and unskilled workers. The average annual salary in FL is just over $40k. http://www.bizjournals.com/southflor...ida-ranks.html


You seem to be one of the most uninformed people who ever posted here. There is little doubt in my mind that you are in the lower tier of FL income probably working in the fast food industry. You should find out what is going on in the rest of the US.

The FL population has DOUBLED since 1980. Do you ever wonder why?