Personal property tax is high in MS

[Gill O'Blarney]

Originally Posted by dal2aus

$4,000 is nothing compared to 5% of your salary in personal income taxes plus sky-high auto registration fees every year plus regular sales taxes...and when you look around you have to ask, "Where does it all go?"

Like I said, what most concerns me is getting my money's worth. When you look at the infrastructure of TX vs. the infrastructure of MS, it's pretty clear that improvements could be made in how MS spends its tax dollars.

I'm not saying that TX is perfect, but just because I point out where MS falls short doesn't mean I regret my decision to move here. Back in TX, I actively challenged the status quo there. We plan on being here for a long while, but we're not just going to take the attitude that the way things are is the way they're supposed to be. If you truly care about your state, you have to be willing to be critical enough to look for ways to improve it.

I'm confused. Mississippi income tax is certainly significant. But there are exemptions and deductions. Marrried filing joint get a $12000 exemption. Then there are the deductions before taxable income. The standard deduction is $4600 for married. (Of course, if you have a mortage, then the deductions will be much greater.) But if you just consider the standard deduction, you have $16,600 untaxed to start. Say you are earning $75000, then you would have a taxable income of roughly (rounded) $60,000.

The tax rates are
3% on the first $5,000 of taxable income.
4% on the next $5,000 of taxable income.
5% on all taxable income over $10,000.

So on that hypothetical $75,000 of income, you would pay 5% on $50,000.

It's a lot, no question about that.

But there are other factors that enter into it. For example, if you are a Federal retiree, you pension is exempt. And if you have a lot of exemptions for children, that reduces it.

Texas infrastructure? Gimme a break. In Houston, you pay tolls repeatedly, just to get around. No tolls in Jackson, Mississippi. It all depends on where you live. Texas is one of the poorest states with extreme poverty - just like Mississippi in that regard.

Sales taxes are collected everywhere - in Mississippi and in Texas. Not much difference between the states.

[Gill O'Blarney]

Just checked. Sales tax is 8.25% in Austin, Texas and 7% in Madison, Mississippi.

[poptones]

LOL I never thought I'd see a discussion where Mississippians so staunchly defended taxes...

One of the differences is Mississippi taxes unprepared food as well. Lots of people take exception to this. I don't so much, because if you're on food stamps it's taken care of anyway - and it's not like we as a state aren't some of the fattest in the country. If anything, I'd say what we need is a fast food tax: If more than 25% of an eating establishment's business is take-outs or drive throughs, tax'em like cigs and alcohol.

[Gill O'Blarney]

Originally Posted by poptones

LOL I never thought I'd see a discussion where Mississippians so staunchly defended taxes...

One of the differences is Mississippi taxes unprepared food as well. Lots of people take exception to this. I don't so much, because if you're on food stamps it's taken care of anyway - and it's not like we as a state aren't some of the fattest in the country. If anything, I'd say what we need is a fast food tax: If more than 25% of an eating establishment's business is take-outs or drive throughs, tax'em like cigs and alcohol.

Not just fast food though. You'd have to tax those all-you-can-eat down-home southern cooking places, like Mama Hamil's in Madison, MS. Great food, great price, but I never saw so many people in one place at one time who needed two chairs to sit at the table.