MD sales tax

[Jya-Ning Silver Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Jya-Ning]

has been increased from 5% to 6% start this new year.

Jya-Ning

[TomandRobin Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close TomandRobin]

has been increased from 5% to 6% start this new year.

Jya-Ning

Yeah, isn't it great! A 20% increase on top of everything else that has been going up!

[Marti Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Marti]

Greetings from the wonderful


State of Maryland!

[gjw007 Member Find all posts View Profile Close gjw007]

has been increased from 5% to 6% start this new year.

Jya-Ning

Given our Governors inclinations, I'm really surprise he and the legislature didn't go for a 12 or 15% sales tax (a little sarcasm). I can still remember watching a Jimmy Carter interview where he stated that we are all rich if we make more than $5000 (five thousand) per year. And of course, we must tax the rich as they are not paying their fair share. Right! Just what is their fair share?

Taxes are difficult as the government can never get enough revenue (think of how many government programs that have been started and stopped; there aren't that many). Sales taxes hurt the poor the most as most if not all their income is spent (including items such as food in Maryland) and is thus taxed on all their income whereas those with a higher income may be able to save some of their income or invest it thus having a lower portion of their income taxed. The result is that a sales tax has poorer people paying a higher percentage of their income in taxes than do higher income.

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

And in CT they are talking about increasing the gas tax.

[rubin Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close rubin]

In my business law practice in Maryland I respresent many entrepreuners and small business owners. Given the recent increases to the individual and corporate income tax, as well as the sales tax, which includes extending the sales tax to the provision of computer services, which had previously been exempt, many of them are now considering relocating their businesses to Virginia, Delaware, or elsewhere. And, while just anecdotal, thats just the tip of the iceberg. Most businesses that are already here are not likely to leave. However, new businesses and start ups, when considering where to locate, are likely to avoid Maryland, which already had one of the highest tax burdens in the US, and now it is even higher. Long term, these anti-business moves are not good for the state.