Press Releases

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene joined Congressman Doc Hastings (R-WA) and 18 other members of Congress to introduce H.R. 2854, a bill that would grant fairness to millions of Americans who live in states that do not assess income taxes.

“Making the sales tax deduction permanent is about fairness. I’m proud to cosponsor this bill, which adds some much-needed certainty to our federal tax code for Washington residents,” said DelBene. “Washington taxpayers shouldn’t have to depend on whether or not Congress is able to grant a temporary extension of this common sense policy. This bill provides tax-relief for Washington’s working families and will help keep dollars here in Washington, supporting our state’s economy.”

More than 20 percent of the country’s population resides in Washington, Florida, Alaska, New Hampshire, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Wyoming, all of which do not collect a state income tax. Instead, these states use sales tax to fund state and local services.  The current tax code contains a permanent federal tax deduction for income taxes, but excludes a permanent deduction for sales tax. In 2004, Congress temporarily restored the state and local sales tax deduction, but did not make it permanent. Since then, Congress has temporarily extended this deduction four times. H.R. 2854 would make the deduction permanent in the tax code.

Unless Congress acts, the current state and local sales tax extension will expire on January 1, 2014.

H.R. 2854 has 19 original cosponsors in the House of Representatives. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) is the lead sponsor of S. 41, the Senate companion bill.

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