Ever Increasing Sales Taxes
The Tax Foundation's policy blog reports today on sales tax data provided by Vertex, saying the company found:
"[T]he average combined U.S. sales and use tax rate increased to a record high of 9.64 percent compared to the previous record of 8.63 percent in 2009. Additionally, the average combined rate of 9.64 percent marks the highest average since Vertex started tracking the data in 1982."
The Tax Foundation also reported:
"The report valuably tracks new taxing jurisdictions and changes within existing ones: far from reducing the burdensome number of sales tax jurisdictions, there were 273 new ones created in 2010. Altogether, new and changed sales taxes have been running at about 676 per year."
The blog also discussed a situation in Tuba City, Arizona, where Vertex found a combined sales tax of 13.75%. However, it seems Tax Foundaton interns were unable to confirm that it is being charged. With that exception, there are four localities in Alabama's Tuscaloosa County that charge a combined 11% sales tax.
What a country? Is there any state or local government in America that significantly lowers taxes, let alone sales taxes. We would be happy to give them the kudos they deserve.