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As anyone who has lived in Seattle metro (as I have) knows Boeing and the aerospace industry is a fickle employer. Their layoff slopes have been stunning historically, their ramp ups are typically gradual.
As anyone who has lived in Seattle metro (as I have) knows Boeing and the aerospace industry is a fickle employer. Their layoff slopes have been stunning historically, their ramp ups are typically gradual.
I've often wondered this too. Say I make $100k per year. In Oregon, I'd be paying 9.8% (or $9,800) in income tax (but no sales tax). Now, in Seattle, I have a 9.8% *sales* tax (but no income tax) -- which means I would have to *spend* $100,000 a year to equal that $9,800. For me, personally, there is NO WAY that I spend $100,000 a year on taxable goods/services. Or am I missing something here?
Yes. You're missing the fact that all other forms of taxation are most likely not equal. Sales tax vs. Income tax are just one tax (per state) amongst many.
We all need to face it. The state needs to get the money out of us somehow. One state is not going to need (or maybe I should say want) exponentially less than the next.
Yes. You're missing the fact that all other forms of taxation are most likely not equal. Sales tax vs. Income tax are just one tax (per state) amongst many.
We all need to face it. The state needs to get the money out of us somehow. One state is not going to need (or maybe I should say want) exponentially less than the next.
True. I guess for me, as a non-home owner, I prefer being taxed through my sales (consumption) rather than the state helping themselves to my paycheck.
I maintain Oregon is missing out on an important source of revenue with their lack of a sales tax. That being tourists, and those just passing through. They pay nothing for what they buy in most cases. They don't live in Oregon so they pay no state income taxes, so one could argue they owe Oregon nothing in taxes. They do add wear and tear to Oregon's roads, however small this ends up being.
However, and this is a big however, think how much Oregon could generate if these tourists and passers-through might add. Most in this category wouldn't mind paying, or at the very least, they would have no choice. Examples of this abound from states all around the country. I don't believe Oregon has exemptions for this type of thing, but WA does allow OR residents to not pay WA sales tax on purchases in WA. Few ask for the exemption, however, unless it is a big purchase. When I lived in Oregon and purchased something in WA, my cutoff was about $50.00. Anything less was not worth it.
Don't overlook the fact that Washington assesses a number of excise taxes, if you sell a home in Vancouver you pay 1.78% excise tax on the gross sale (realtor fees, closing costs are additional). That may not seem much but remember that sales tax has already been paid on the land, labor and materials when it was constructed.
Would you happen to know if you must pay state sales tax on a housing purchase in Washington state when you buy a resale house?
True. I guess for me, as a non-home owner, I prefer being taxed through my sales (consumption) rather than the state helping themselves to my paycheck.
That's your choice. They're going to get it, wherever it comes from.
You do realize you pay property tax via your rent, don't you.
I maintain Oregon is missing out on an important source of revenue with their lack of a sales tax. That being tourists, and those just passing through. They pay nothing for what they buy in most cases. They don't live in Oregon so they pay no state income taxes, so one could argue they owe Oregon nothing in taxes. They do add wear and tear to Oregon's roads, however small this ends up being.
However, and this is a big however, think how much Oregon could generate if these tourists and passers-through might add. Most in this category wouldn't mind paying, or at the very least, they would have no choice. Examples of this abound from states all around the country. I don't believe Oregon has exemptions for this type of thing, but WA does allow OR residents to not pay WA sales tax on purchases in WA. Few ask for the exemption, however, unless it is a big purchase. When I lived in Oregon and purchased something in WA, my cutoff was about $50.00. Anything less was not worth it.
Tourists might not mind paying it, bur Oregonians do. They've voted it down numerous times.
Tourists pay other types of taxes. They're not getting by scot-free. They do buy gas and rent hotel rooms.
My experience with the Oregon tax exemption in Washington is ... unless it's somewhere right along the Oregon border, the merchants have such a conniption over giving it, it's just not worth the hassle. But, it's been a long time since I bought anything in Washington.
Tourists might not mind paying it, bur Oregonians do. They've voted it down numerous times.
Tourists pay other types of taxes. They're not getting by scot-free. They do buy gas and rent hotel rooms.
My experience with the Oregon tax exemption in Washington is ... unless it's somewhere right along the Oregon border, the merchants have such a conniption over giving it, it's just not worth the hassle. But, it's been a long time since I bought anything in Washington.
Places way north like Seattle don't usually have the paperwork on hand to fill out, or the cashiers don't know how. Cabellos and IKEA will both gladly take it off for you and the cashiers are well trained in how to do so. In fact the Cabellos cashiers are almost militant about it. I don't care about the tax on a five dollar item, but they still insist on taking it off.
That's your choice. They're going to get it, wherever it comes from.
You do realize you pay property tax via your rent, don't you.
True, the property owner pays the tax and they are recouping that through my rent. But the same can be said about people renting in Oregon or any state for that matter. My point is, I get to keep more of my paycheck living in Washington, than I would in Oregon. If choose to buy more, I will pay more in taxes (groceries are tax free). If I chose to save more, I will pay less in taxes. The same cannot be said about living in Oregon.
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