California's "Nicotine" Tax Going Into Effect (Sacramento, Corona: HOA, car registration)

[JGC97]

It's amusing to read comments about repealing Prop 13. It's like being thrown back in time. Jerry Brown was governor then and now. Voters were fed up with rising taxes in the state back then - which is why we got Prop 13 and now, here we are again, facing more rising taxes. The only thing different, he's pretty much laid off property taxes but going after every other commodity in the state. It's Déjà vu.

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by expatCA

In other words it is legal so why tax it any higher than other legal things at a store.

Answer to get more money.

Better answer: to help deter the smoking habit, which costs thousands of lives per year.

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by majoun

I don't mean to derail this thread by turning it into a Prop 13 thread, but...

Most recent Prop 13 thread: //www.city-data.com/forum/calif...ange-prop.html

[2sleepy]

Originally Posted by CA4Now

Most recent Prop 13 thread: //www.city-data.com/forum/calif...ange-prop.html

Nevada has a 3% annual cap on increases to private residence property tax & a 7% cap on commercial property, seems like a similar compromise could work for California. The only sucky thing about NV is that if your property value goes up 15% one year and stays the same for the next 4 years, your property tax goes up 3% a year anyway so they can capture the full 15% increase.

[majoun]

Originally Posted by HereOnMars

It's amusing to read comments about repealing Prop 13. It's like being thrown back in time. Jerry Brown was governor then and now. Voters were fed up with rising taxes in the state back then - which is why we got Prop 13 and now, here we are again, facing more rising taxes. The only thing different, he's pretty much laid off property taxes but going after every other commodity in the state. It's Déjà vu.

If only Brown would lay off consumption taxes of all types....

[JGC97]

Originally Posted by majoun

If only Brown would lay off consumption taxes of all types....

The thing is, taxes are what keep a state from going in the crapper. I'm not against taxes but I'd like to see them a little more evenly distributed. I'd still like to see them raise the tax on alcohol. The state would make a boatload of money off that

[majoun]

Originally Posted by HereOnMars

The thing is, taxes are what keep a state from going in the crapper. I'm not against taxes but I'd like to see them a little more evenly distributed. I'd still like to see them raise the tax on alcohol. The state would make a boatload of money off that

I am against all taxes except property taxes, although I realize that they're not going to be eliminated and are necessary for the state to function. They are a necessary evil.

That said I think that consumption taxes of all types should be low or nonexistent. That's why Oregon's a better place to live than California.

The alcohol tax is too high as it is right now.

[JGC97]

Originally Posted by majoun

I am against all taxes except property taxes, although I realize that they're not going to be eliminated and are necessary for the state to function.

That said I think that consumption taxes of all types should be low or nonexistent. That's why Oregon's a better place to live than California.

That should be "That's why Oregon's a better place to live than California, in my opinion." You see, it's all a matter of one's preferences. Oregon generates revenue by imposing higher income and property tax because it doesn't have sales tax. Every state has to raise money to keep it running. You should look up the difference between income tax in California vs. Oregon. You'll see that, at lower levels, Oregon taxes income at a higher rate than California does. Examples ....

California:

For single and married filing separately taxpayers:

• 1% on the first $7,850 of taxable income.
• 2% on taxable income between $7,851 and $18,610.
• 4% on taxable income between $18,611 and $29,372.
• 6% on taxable income between $29,373 and $40,773.
• 8% on taxable income between $40,774 and $51,530.
• 9.3% on taxable income between $51,531 and $263,222.
• 10.3% on taxable income between $263,223 and 315,866.
• 11.3% on taxable income between $315,867 and $526,443.
• 12.3% on taxable income of $526,444 and above.

Oregon:

For single taxpayers and married couples filing separate returns:

• 5% on the first $3,350 of taxable income.
• 7% on taxable income between $3,351 and $8,400.
• 9% on taxable income between $8,401 and $125,000
• 9.9% on taxable income of $125,001 and above.

For married couples filing jointly, qualifying widows or widowers, and heads of household, the rates remain the same, but the tax brackets are doubled.

The point is, every state in the country has taxes. It's just varies from state to state what is taxed and what isn't and at what rate.

[majoun]

Originally Posted by HereOnMars

That should be "That's why Oregon's a better place to live than California, in my opinion." You see, it's all a matter of one's preferences. Oregon generates revenue by imposing higher income and property tax because it doesn't have sales tax. Every state has to raise money to keep it running. You should look up the difference between income tax in California vs. Oregon. You'll see that, at lower levels, Oregon taxes income at a higher rate than California does. Examples ....

California:

For single and married filing separately taxpayers:

• 1% on the first $7,850 of taxable income.
• 2% on taxable income between $7,851 and $18,610.
• 4% on taxable income between $18,611 and $29,372.
• 6% on taxable income between $29,373 and $40,773.
• 8% on taxable income between $40,774 and $51,530.
• 9.3% on taxable income between $51,531 and $263,222.
• 10.3% on taxable income between $263,223 and 315,866.
• 11.3% on taxable income between $315,867 and $526,443.
• 12.3% on taxable income of $526,444 and above.

Oregon:

For single taxpayers and married couples filing separate returns:

• 5% on the first $3,350 of taxable income.
• 7% on taxable income between $3,351 and $8,400.
• 9% on taxable income between $8,401 and $125,000
• 9.9% on taxable income of $125,001 and above.

For married couples filing jointly, qualifying widows or widowers, and heads of household, the rates remain the same, but the tax brackets are doubled.

The point is, every state in the country has taxes. It's just varies from state to state what is taxed and what isn't and at what rate.

I'd rather have higher property taxes with no sales tax than higher sales tax with low property taxes.
Interestingly the highest income tax bracket in Oregon is lower than in California.

[JGC97]

Originally Posted by majoun

I'd rather have higher property taxes with no sales tax than higher sales tax with low property taxes.
Interestingly the highest income tax bracket in Oregon is lower than in California.

Oh yes, there's no doubt California has some of the highest tax rates in the country. Still, it's not the highest when it comes to property taxes. Check out New Jersey or New Hampshire. They're terrible In fact, not long ago I read a blurb about how people should move to New Hampshire to enjoy the tax benefits but not if they plan on buying since property taxes were off the charts and that's how the state made their money.

So if you are one who doesn't buy a home and only spends on purchases, it makes sense that you would want higher property taxes and lower consumption taxes. I, on the other hand, am an almost elderly single person with a mortgage who relies on keeping property taxes lower so I can stay in my home. I also don't spend money on tobacco or liquor so raising those taxes doesn't bother me, either. So you see, it's all subjective and how it affects you personally.