Issues@Hand

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November 2014 – WalletHub, a personal finance social network, conducted a nationwide survey to assess what Americans think a fair state and local tax system looks like. Staff analysts then ranked states based on how closely their tax systems matched what survey respondents considered fair.

According to the survey, states with the most fair tax systems include Montana, Oregon, South Carolina, California, Maryland and Vermont. States with the least fair tax systems include Tennessee, Texas, Arizona, Mississippi, Florida and Hawaii. Washington state owned the least fair tax system.

On the global tax scene, the Tax Foundation, a free market group, examined the international tax competitiveness of 34 countries. The group based its findings on an index of more than 40 separate factors including 5 key areas of tax policy: corporate taxes, consumption taxes, property taxes, individual taxes and international tax rules.

Of the 34 countries studied, the U.S. came in at number 32, with only Portugal and France faring worse. New Zealand and Switzerland were shown to be the most competitive.

Republicans and Democrats have used the study to call for national tax reform.

In another recent poll conducted by  Reason-Rupe, 62% of Americans prefer a flat tax, in which everyone pays the same percentage on his or her income. Most agreed that a 15% tax would be the most fair. The same poll showed support for a flat tax reaching across the aisle, with 66% of Republicans, 68% of Independents and 52% of Democrats supporting it.

wallethub.com, 9/15/14; thehill.com, 9/15/14; reason.com, 4/15/14