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I know that NH does not have state income or sales taxes, but I'm curious, the state must get money from somewhere. Anytime I've been there, it always seems to be a well-maintained and well-run state. Infrastructure is not crumbling as it is here in Maine.
New Hampshire generally spends a lot less per ca pita than its neighbors, favoring private and local spending and investment over state. Overall, state and local taxes are some of the lowest in the country because most activities are taken care of at the local level, where people want things done cost effectively.
In addition to the aforementioned tolls and property taxes (which seem to go up every year...) many fees have also been created or raised these past few years. The cost to register your vehicles and fees for renewing and maintaining professional licenses have increased. The interest and dividends tax in New Hampshire was extended to include profits of LLC's, and the business profits tax filing threshold was changed. All businesses, regardless of their income level, are now required to file a return.
The cigarette tax increased to $1.78 from $1.33 per pack, and the excise tax on hotels and meals jumped from 8 percent to 9 percent, and the tax has been extended to campsites. A new 10 percent tax on gambling winnings was enacted.
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Originally Posted by melinuxfool
I know that NH does not have state income or sales taxes, but I'm curious, the state must get money from somewhere. Anytime I've been there, it always seems to be a well-maintained and well-run state. Infrastructure is not crumbling as it is here in Maine.
oh, and one other tax that most of you don't encounter: if you rent a car at the airport, it has quite a tax on it - more than if you rent a car at a city location. This doesn't impact residents, but anyone flying up for business or visiting relatives (or house hunting...) will get hit with it.
I really hate state income taxes, but it seems to me a sales tax is better than property taxes. New Hampshire is making a mistake with high property taxes. Retired people should be able to live in their homes without having to pay property taxes every year, especially to pay for schools burdened to some extent by children of parents that are on welfare. In the old days there was a stigma to being 'on the dole' - we need to stop putting the ne'er do wells on a pedestal. Property taxes force the savers to pay for the irresponsible.
Vilmer, the property taxes aren't necessarily higher than anywhere else, and sometimes cheaper than other states! At least in NH, your taxes go mostly to your own town instead of being sucked up by the state and portioned anywhere they feel like raiding (or into their pocket)!
Speaking as a soon-to-be retired person, I'd love it if that category was exempt, but I honestly don't see why it should be. Retired people drive on the roads and need them maintained, plowed... Retired people often use a library or other town service. And if someone retires and then moves to NH (as I will be, though I did grow up there), they haven't paid they dues before hand!
Speaking also as one who has no children and therefore isn't terribly concerned with the schools... it would be great if we were exempt from paying the school fees. But I understand why we still pay them: it's all part of sharing the burden of society - you need to educate your young ('you' being the town's young, not necessarily yours personally), and if you have a better school with decent programs, your kids are less likely to become delinquent in other ways. It's a good thing. Plus, why should the parents then face an undo hardship of shouldering the entire burden - running a school is expensive!
I'd say in NH there still is a stigma for being on the dole: and NH has very little dole! There are very few social services to help those who need it (and be abused by some who like to live that way) - say, compared to VT??? I don't see how that much of your taxes are going towards that, the majority really stays in your own town. And the towns vary.. don't like your taxes? so move somewhere else, or work to change the selectmen who are spending your tax dollars.
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