@chaski Said
Florida has sales tax, and some counties of Florida add a couple cents.
In South Florida when there is a hurricane, or some other natural disaster, they will put a moratorium on the sales tax.
They also canceled sales tax on school items just at the beginning of the school year.
Both of these kinds of moratoriums seem to help people and the stores as sales typically increase.
Florida's text system seems to be doing pretty well for the state.
We have the August tax free weekend too,usually school/office supplies and clothes/shoes. Also most food is not taxed. Food as in the grocery store, not prepared food (like my starbucks order). So like hot stuff from the deli or prepared sandwiches and salads made in store are taxed, but not the prepackaged stuff that comes that way from the distrubutor. They ere considering the return of the food tax a while back, but ended up going a different direction.
I'm not opposed to sales tax in general, high sales tax combined with income tax as we have it, does tend to more negatively impact the poor. Especially things like food, basic hygiene stuff, and gas - that are necessities.
our state has money revenue issues, but I'm certain it is not just a tax issue....it's also a spending issue and an income issue.
That being said not being able to free file with the IRS is going to impact a lot of people, as even for free it was either income based or how simple your forms were. We never could use the free stuff just for our filing, because we have investments that have to go on the 1040 or the 1040A not the 1040EZ... and its always a stupidly small amount like $5 that f***s everything over every year.
* I also have not dont my taxes yet this year. I may do them this weekend, or if not an extension again. Gathering our medical deductions is pain in the a** I am not looking forward to.
We do use H&R block though, mostly because my dad does work for them. It used to be an independent franchise, but was taken over by corporate this season. I get a "family discount" provided I don't take an appointment away from a full price paying customer, I also don't get some of the audit protections with the discount, but f*** me if I remember them right now. Or I use the website which is cheaper than in person, but more than going to my dad. I did that last year
H&R block should pay their peeps better, based off what they charge though.