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Our Tax
Structure Should be Adequate and Equitable
We believe
that our tax system should be fair and that it should adequately fund the
services our communities need and want.
Washington has the most regressive tax system in the country - one in which
low and moderate income
families spend far more of
what they earn in state and local taxes
than wealthy people do.
Meanwhile, our
state budget is a roller-coaster ride
(not the fun kind) with frequent deficits
and not enough steady income to meet our needs.
Griping about taxes
has caused us to lose sight of their value and made it
easier to sustain an unfair system.
We think
it's time for a change!
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Sign up
to get alerts on key tax issues and actions.
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More than 100,000 Washington
Residents Have Yet to Claim Stimulus Payments
Thousands of low-income seniors and disabled people who
are not normally required to file tax returns must file a Form 1040A for 2007 -
just this once - to receive their federal stimulus payment.
It should not affect their eligibility for Social
Security or disability payments.
As long as recipients spend a portion of the payment
quickly, it also should not affect their eligibility for other public benefits
like food stamps or SSI.
The deadline
to apply is October 15th. Help us get the word out to those in
Washington State who could really use some extra money.
Read More
here.
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State Spending Consistent Over
Last Decade
State spending on public priorities
like education, health care and transportation has remained consistent over the
past ten years when measured as a share of the economy.
But with an expected deficit in the next two year budget many
experts predict that the state will not be able to maintain current levels of
funding for the vital services we rely on.
We can hardly afford to cut
investment in our schools, hospitals and roads. Instead of cutting
services, we need to find new revenue sources to close the budget gap.
More importantly, the looming
deficit highlights the fundamental inadequacy of our current revenue structure
and sheds light on the need for significant reforms to our outdated tax system.
To read the In Focus on
state spending by the Washington State Budget and Policy Center
click here.
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High
Incomes Tax
Marilyn Watkins of the Economic
Opportunity Institute outlines an innovative proposal that would create revenue
and make our tax system more fair.
Read her excellent
guest column in the Seattle
Post-Intelligencer.
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Governor
Gregoire Signs the Working Families Credit Bill into Law
With her
signature, Washington becomes the first state without an income tax to implement
a tax rebate based on the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). When
fully implemented, the Working Families Credit will give low-wage earning
families a rebate equal to 10% of the federal EITC they receive.
Low income families pay a MUCH
higher percentage of household income in state and local taxes than the wealthy.
The Working Families Credit is one of the most significant improvements to our
regressive tax structure in more than 30 years.
It is an
important, tangible step toward making Washington State's tax system more fair.
Getting the Working Families Credit fully funded will be a top priority in the
2009 Legislative Session.
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Have you paid your dues? How a name change
could change attitudes about taxes.
Read more. |
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A better way to
reform our property tax system.
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We've GOT
that!
A new analysis of property taxes? A brief on
weighing tax breaks? What is a rainy day fund? Visit our resources
page.
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For more information, contact
Ben Secord.
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Washington Tax
Fairness Coalition
1402 Third Avenue, Suite 1211
Seattle, WA 98101
206-621-8213
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Where in the world is Ben Secord?
Ben, our wonderful Organizer, is attending community get-togethers
around the state, talking to folks like you about our state tax system and
how we can work together to improve it.
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The Washington Tax Fairness Coalition has 75 +
member organizations, including: education, health, labor,
policy, senior citizen, civic, social justice, environmental, conservation, and
faith-based organizations.
A special welcome to
our newest member, the
National Council of
Jewish Women, Seattle Section! |
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We are proud members
of the Tax Fairness Organizing Collaborative
The Tax Fairness Organizing Collaborative is a
network of statewide organizations working at the grass-roots level for fair and
adequate taxation. Collaborative members believe that educating and organizing
those most affected by economic injustice are essential ingredients for
achieving sustainable progressive economic policies and greater governmental
accountability. For more information about the Collaborative,
click
here. |
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