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Everything evens itself out. For example, in NH we have no sales tax and low insurance premiums yet property tax is expensive and car registration is high just to name a couple. Ive lived in other states where car registrations are low, property tax is low yet we had a sales tax and high insurance premiums. All in all my life style has not changed and in the end I don't spend any more or less here than I did living elsewhere.
Disagree. You have control over what you buy. Unless you eat at a restaurant for all your meals, 9% is really not a big deal. Plenty of people pack a lunch and don't have to buy prepared food every day.
I also used to live in NY, 8.65% tax on going out to eat and goods except clothing (tax is collected at the county level for clothing which is around 4.5%), groceries and over the counter meds. Oh and you're paying full sales tax on your car. Registration is a little cheaper though.
There is no "gotcha". No sales tax in NH is awesome!
I eat out a lot.....just seems like an odd "money grab" for a state that prides itself on no sales tax.
If I spend $1000 a month going out to dinner, the tax would be $90. I wouldn't normally spend $1000 a month on buying goods/clothing etc. so I wouldn't see any "tax free" savings.
That being said, if I lived in a close by border state I would certainly cross the border for any big purchases!
I eat out a lot.....just seems like an odd "money grab" for a state that prides itself on no sales tax.
If I spend $1000 a month going out to dinner, the tax would be $90. I wouldn't normally spend $1000 a month on buying goods/clothing etc. so I wouldn't see any "tax free" savings.
That being said, if I lived in a close by border state I would certainly cross the border for any big purchases!
IMHO, it's geared more toward tourism. As NH's second biggest industry, the 9% tax on meals, lodging, and car rentals is a tremendous source or revenue for the state.
Same reason we have giant liquor store oasis on the interstates.
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Originally Posted by robr2
IMHO, it's geared more toward tourism. As NH's second biggest industry, the 9% tax on meals, lodging, and car rentals is a tremendous source or revenue for the state.
I've got no problem with the state deriving as much revenue as possible from out-of-state
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Originally Posted by mustangman66
Everything evens itself out. For example, in NH we have no sales tax and low insurance premiums yet property tax is expensive and car registration is high just to name a couple. Ive lived in other states where car registrations are low, property tax is low yet we had a sales tax and high insurance premiums. All in all my life style has not changed and in the end I don't spend any more or less here than I did living elsewhere.
Where I came from, sales tax, insurance, property tax and income tax were all high, and rising. I like being able to have some control over my tax burden, by choosing a smaller house (and "current use" land), registering fewer cars, and eating out less often, and of course voting in town elections to keep property tax low.
Your town has significant control over property tax rate, and even some control over your vehicle registration costs. So if you don't like it, vote to change it.
I've got no problem with the state deriving as much revenue as possible from out-of-state
Where I came from, sales tax, insurance, property tax and income tax were all high, and rising. I like being able to have some control over my tax burden, by choosing a smaller house (and "current use" land), registering fewer cars, and eating out less often, and of course voting in town elections to keep property tax low.
Your town has significant control over property tax rate, and even some control over your vehicle registration costs. So if you don't like it, vote to change it.
Not complaining about it at all. I just believe it is a wash if you choose to live the same lifestyle as you would elsewhere. I didn't move back to NH to save money, I moved back because I love the state.
Not complaining about it at all. I just believe it is a wash if you choose to live the same lifestyle as you would elsewhere. I didn't move back to NH to save money, I moved back because I love the state.
Agree. The way my boyfriend and I spend, I'd rather have a state sales tax, since we hardly buy anything brand new... so if having a state sales tax would help lower our property tax bills, then I'm all for it. Shrug.
Anyway, it seems to me that renters make out the best in NH if it was all about saving money.
State sales taxes just grow state government, don't result in lower property tax.
Most towns don't have much local retail, wouldn't directly benefit from a sales tax. Instead counties and the state would collect regional sales tax revenues, absorb a chunk, and maybe return some portion of revenue to towns. This approach grows state power, takes control over taxation and spending away from the town and puts it in the hands of the state. Not where I want to see NH go.
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Originally Posted by miu
Agree. The way my boyfriend and I spend, I'd rather have a state sales tax, since we hardly buy anything brand new... so if having a state sales tax would help lower our property tax bills, then I'm all for it. Shrug.
Since then, VT has increased the sales tax to 6%, and raised the property tax several times and now their property tax rate is barely lower than New Hampshire's. Add in their income tax (up to 8.95%), and Vermont is consistently in the top ten states for total tax burden.
Vermont's system has resulted in a drastic shift of revenue and power from local towns to the state, which is the last thing we need in New Hampshire. NH does not need to tax like VT taxes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mustangman66
Not complaining about it at all. I just believe it is a wash if you choose to live the same lifestyle as you would elsewhere. I didn't move back to NH to save money, I moved back because I love the state.
I moved here in part because I like the idea of keeping the majority of political power and taxation local, of having a state government with minimal power, minimal budget, and minimal number of voters per state representative.
The saying "all politics is local" is actually true in New Hampshire.
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Anyway, it seems to me that renters make out the best in NH if it was all about saving money.
Landlords consider their property tax when setting rent, so how are renters any better off than condo owners?
Agree. The way my boyfriend and I spend, I'd rather have a state sales tax, since we hardly buy anything brand new... so if having a state sales tax would help lower our property tax bills, then I'm all for it. Shrug.
Anyway, it seems to me that renters make out the best in NH if it was all about saving money.
If you started paying state income tax and your property tax was lowered, where is the savings?
Renters pay a pretty expensive rate compared to other areas. So they are contributing to those high property taxes.
I think NH taxes are just fine the way they are now. City/State government needs to shrink. If NH gets more taxes, it will simply grow government, they will never spend less.
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Same reason we have giant liquor store oasis on the interstates.
State sales taxes just grow state government, don't result in lower property tax.
