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Who Pays? A Distributional Analysis of Taxes in all 50 States
The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) is a non-profit, non-partisan research and education organization that works on government taxation and spending policy issues. ITEP's mission is to keep policymakers and the public informed of the effects of current and proposed tax policies on tax fairness, government budgets and sound economic policy.
Who Pays? is a comprehensive analysis of state and local tax burdens in all fifty states. The study, released on January 7, 2003, shows that Washington has the most regressive tax structure in the nation.
Washington State Tax Structure Study
In 2001, the Legislature created the Washington State Tax Structure Study Committee and directed it to determine how well the current tax system functions and how it might be changed to better serve the citizens of the state.
Made up of economists, elected officials and business leaders, and chaired by William Gates Sr., the Committee released its final report in January of 2002.
The Committee examined the elasticity, equity, and adequacy of the state's existing tax system and developed multiple alternatives designed to increase harmony between tax systems of this state and its border states; encourage commerce and business creation; and encourage home ownership.
What was their leading recommendation? An income tax, of course. Love it or hate it, their arguments are compelling. So read the report for yourself, and come up with your own conclusions: Washington State Tax Structure Study
