Nevada: Tax Hikes in Special Session Possible
The Reno Gazette Journal reports that tax increases may be on the agenda for next week’s special session of the Nevada legislature. Among the candidates, according to Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, D-Reno, is raising the business payroll tax and hiking the hotel tax, popularly known as the “room tax.”
For those who’ve followed Governor Jim Gibbons’ membership in the dwindling crowd of state executives who are adhering to “no new taxes” pledges, this isn’t terribly exciting news because the harsh political realities of the state suggest it doesn’t matter what tax hikes the legislature discusses:
Gov. Jim Gibbons has said he would stick to his election-campaign pledge of no new taxes. Democrats are a vote shy of being able to override a veto in the Assembly and are in the minority in the Senate. Lanni’s suggestion to raise the payroll tax from 0.63 percent to 1.23 percent and generate $246 million annually won’t go far in the special session, Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, said.“I am aware of it and have also heard from him on that and my indication is that this is not the time to start talking about raising taxes,” Raggio said. “We are in tough times and businesses are hurting and in this special session, it is something that we can’t even consider.”
Of course, depending on the outcome of the ongoing brouhaha over the size of Nevada’s budget deficit, Democrats may ultimately find it easier to override a gubernatorial veto. And it’s always possible that Governor Gibbons will back away from his pledge and start evaluating the state’s fiscal jam in a non-judgmental way.
But don’t hold your breath.
Nevada: Special Session Postponed (Sort Of)
In the wake of news that Nevada’s projected budget deficit will be larger than previously estimated, Governor Jim Gibbons has postponed the start of his special legislative session on the budget deficit from next Monday to Friday. The news isn’t good:
[T]he new shortfall figure lawmakers must deal with when they convene on Friday is $250 million, more than a $243 million shortfall projected by state Budget Director Andrew Clinger. And far above the $94 million projected by legislative fiscal analysts.
A Gibbons representative made it clear that with the expanded deficit, all policy options were on the table– except for half of them:
Josh Hicks, general counsel to Gibbons, said every type of potential budget cut is on the table for the session, from 4 percent cost-of-living raises set to take effect July 1 for state employees and public teachers, to cuts to programs. Tax increases, he said, “are not on the governor’s table.”
Of course, when you’ve already identified $900 million of spending cuts without a single tax hike, what’s another $250 million? The Governor’s single-minded approach to resolving the state’s fiscal crisis reminds me of this exchange from the John Belushi-Dan Ackroyd classic “The Blues Brothers”:
Elwood: What kind of music do you usually have here?
Claire: Oh, we got both kinds. We got country and western.
New IRS Guidelines for Tax Filers in 2007
The 2007 tax season will get down as planned. How, due to the recent changes the IRS will not be able to action tax returns of tax filers who will be taking (1) state and local sales tax discounts, (2) higher education tutorship and fees discounts and (3) educator expenses, until early February.
Unsurprising, January is the slowest time of the tax season with maximum six percent of the tax returns filed in the first 2 weeks; last year, around 6.7 million returns were filed along January 27. Statistics for 2005 shows that almost 930,000 taxpayers took any of the three discounts by February 1. This year the IRS counters around 136 million tax returns.
According to IRS Commissioner, Mark W. Everson, “the IRS is taking a number of steps to insure taxpayers have the right information on these discounts when they prepare and file their tax returns.” The IRS advances those who may be desirable for these discounts to file electronically. “They will get their refund faster by e-file. Even more significantly, e-file will great come down the chances of making an fault compared to claiming the discounts on the paper 1040″, said Everson.
The primary forms – Forms 1040, 1040A and Schedule A&B that are already in count do not include the dicounts that were approved by the copulation in December. To insure a smoothen sailing, the IRS has created a special effect of Publication 600. Tax filers and tax professionals can get the updated information on the late lawmaking by visiting irs.gov. In addition, the IRS will carry on a special posting of Publication 600 which will be sent out to over 6 million taxpayers. For those taxpayers who mean to e-file, the IRS has informed the tax software to admit the three new discounts.
The sales tax discounts which was took by around 11.2 million tax returns last year goes for to nine states” Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. To claim the sales tax discounts taxpayers must fill line 5 Schedule A (Form 1040) by coming in ST on the line to the left of line 5 to show that you are exacting the sales tax discounts alternatively of the deduction for state and local income tax.
The higher education planning (Hope credit and Lifetime Learning credits) was filed by around 4.7 million taxpayers last year. The credit which is up to $4000 for tutionship and fees paid to post-secondary institutions cannot be claimed on Form 1040A. It must be claimed on Form 1040 on line 23.
The planning for education expenses, which allows educators (particularly teachers) to deduce equal to $250 on personal expenses on school issues, was took by 3.5 taxpayers in 2005. The discounts can be took by filling line 23 on Form 1040.
Community Property
If you are married and your domicile (permanent home to which you intend to return) is in one of the following states, your military pay is subject to community property laws of that state: Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. See 1.6 for community property reporting rules.