SACRAMENTO
– Although the average American can celebrate Tax Freedom Day on April
18, Californians must wait nearly a week longer—until April 24—to join
the celebration, says George Runner.
“Like
it or not, Californians must work 114 days this year to pay federal,
state and local taxes—that’s four more days than last year,” said
Runner. “Higher taxes mean a real loss of freedom. It’s no wonder people
are leaving our state.”
Tax
Freedom Day, calculated annually by the Tax Foundation, is the day
Americans have earned enough money to pay their annual tax obligations
at the federal, state and local levels. This year’s national Tax Freedom
Day arrives April 18, five days later than last year.
However,
in California, Tax Freedom Day won’t arrive until April 24, four days
later than last year and eight days later than two years ago. Compared
to other states, California’s Tax Freedom Day is now the sixth latest in
the nation, up from eleventh last year. Only Connecticut, New York, New
Jersey, Massachusetts and Illinois have later dates.
“As
bad as California’s rank is this year, the Legislature seems intent on
making it even worse,” added Runner. “They’re churning out so many new
taxes and fees it’s hard for the experts to keep up, let alone the
average California taxpayer.”
Although
the Tax Foundation considered the impact of Propositions 30 and 39, its
calculation does not include California’s fire “fee,” lumber tax, nor
the Franchise Tax Board’s recent retroactive tax hike on small business
investors.
Learn more about Tax Freedom Day at www.taxfoundation.org/