On April 20th, Floridians will celebrate Taxpayer Independence Day 2016, the first day of the year where taxpayers are no longer working to pay off their tax bill but are working for themselves. This symbolic date, calculated by Florida TaxWatch, assumes that every dollar earned from the start of 2016 went to pay taxes at all levels of government.
This year's Taxpayer Independence Day occurs on the same day as last year, as growth in income and tax collections are expected to be similar this year. Prior to this year, Taxpayer Independence Day had come later than the year before in four straight years. This caused the date to move from April 8 in 2011 to April 20 in 2015.
“Taxpayer Independence Day reflects that Floridians' personal income growth is keeping pace with the growth in the taxes they pay, meaning it is not taking longer to achieve independence this year. ,” said Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro. ““Florida is lucky to be blessed with a great tax climate that stimulates business growth and keeps money in the pockets of hard-working families. Florida TaxWatch hopes that Floridians will celebrate Taxpayer Independence Day by recognizing the impact that different levels of government have in their daily lives and in their paycheck.”
Federal tax burden continues to have the largest impact on Floridians, as federal taxes comprise more than 70 percent of Floridians' federal, state and local tax burden. For the average Floridian, the state tax burden is 16.7 percent and local tax burden is 13.3 percent of their total tax bill, down from 17 and 13.7 percent respectively in 2015.
For a full analysis, click here.
For more on how Florida’s tax burden stacks up against the rest of the nation, read Florida TaxWatch's How Florida Compares: Taxes.
About Florida TaxWatch
As an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit taxpayer research institute & government watchdog for more than one third of a century, Florida TaxWatch works to improve the productivity and accountability of Florida government. Its research recommends productivity enhancements and explains the statewide impact of fiscal and economic policies and practices on citizens and businesses.
Florida TaxWatch is supported by voluntary, tax-deductible donations and private grants, and does not accept government funding. Donations provide a solid, lasting foundation that has enabled Florida TaxWatch to bring about a more effective, responsive government that is more accountable to, and productive for, the citizens it serves since 1979. For more information, please visit http://www.floridataxwatch.org.