State Taxes (Portland, Clackamas: sales, income, property taxes)

[tangodoodles]

I've been researching taxes in each state and I found a site that listed sales tax, property tax, state income tax, etc. It seemed as though Portland was consistently on lists indicating no taxes for each particular tax? Is that true? Do you guys really pay only federal income tax? Or is there some sort of catch that I'm missing? Just curious, thanks.

[KarlaT2]

Originally Posted by tangodoodles

I've been researching taxes in each state and I found a site that listed sales tax, property tax, state income tax, etc. It seemed as though Portland was consistently on lists indicating no taxes for each particular tax? Is that true? Do you guys really pay only federal income tax? Or is there some sort of catch that I'm missing? Just curious, thanks.

There is a state income tax (considered one of the higher ones), and property taxes. Oregon has no sales tax though.

[aalverson]

Even though there is no sales tax in Oregon, Portland was a bit of tax sticker shock to me. OR income tax is 9%. Multnomah County used to have it's own income tax; that is gone for now but property taxes are astronomically high in my opinion. Counties outside metro Portland - Clackamas, Washington, etc. typically have lower property taxes.

[John Shaft]

There is most definitely a state income tax, and it's pretty hefty for those of us unused to such things. The supporters continue to say a 9% tax on EVERYTHING YOU BRING IN (including long-term capital gains) is better than an 8% tax on only what you spend. (Fuzzy math indeed!)

A sales tax would generate lots of revenue from the tourism industry as well.

My .02.

[EnricoV]

I think you'll find most "supporters" as you refer to them have no trust that should a sales tax be initiated, anything would be reduced in regards to other taxation. It's not that everyone loves an income tax and hates a sales tax. We just don't want both.