St. Paul, Minnesota — Today, the Minnesota House passed legislation (HF 1777) to cut taxes for middle class families and to repeal business-to-business taxes. The $514 million tax cut bill would reduce taxes for hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans, largely by conforming to federal tax changes. State Representatives John Ward (DFL – Baxter) and Joe Radinovich (DFL – Crosby) voted for the bill.
“Our great state is on the right track and the way to continue that progress is to grow our economy from the middle out, starting with these middle-class tax cuts,” said Rep. Ward. “There is broad, bipartisan support in the House for these tax cuts and I’m pleased we’re working together to move forward.”
“With a growing economy, a strong $1.23 billion surplus and full budget reserves, we can cut taxes for middle-class Minnesotans and repeal the business-to-business taxes in a bipartisan, fiscally responsible way,” said Rep. Radinovich. “We need to move quickly to get this done and I hope we will be sending a bill for Governor Dayton to sign soon.”
Last session the House included federal tax conformity for tax year 2013 and beyond. However, this did not end up in the final budget signed into law. The legislation passed by the House Tax Committee would provide $200 million in middle class tax cuts through permanent federal tax conformity. Those tax cuts include:
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$111 million for middle income married families by eliminating the “marriage penalty”
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650,000 families will see an average tax decrease of $115
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The vast majority of families claiming the standard deduction make less than $75,000
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$36 million for low income working families by matching the state’s Working Family Credit with the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
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More than 50,000 working families will see an average tax decrease of $300
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$7.2 million for homeowners that refinanced or had a short sale
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$3.9 million for new homeowners through deduction of mortgage insurance premiums
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80,000 new homeowners will see an average tax cut of $60
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$26.4 million for students and parents paying for college and students paying off loans
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$1.8 million for Minnesota families with dependents
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25,000 families with household incomes below $38,570 will see a $65 tax decrease
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$400,000 for adopting who receive adoption assistance from employers
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$1.1 million for 60,0000 teachers with the classroom expense deduction for educators
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$4 million for charitable contributions
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$1.8 million for Minnesota families with dependents
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25,000 families with household incomes below $38,570 will see a $65 tax decrease
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$6.7 million for businesses - to make tax filing simpler for businesses
(Source: Non-partisan House Research)
The House Tax bill also would repeal three business-to-business taxes (warehousing and storage services, commercial equipment repair (including farm machinery) and telecommunications equipment) that were passed as part of a Senate package in the 2013 budget.
Reps. Ward and Radinovich encourage constituents to contact them with any questions, comments, concerns, or ideas on any legislative topic. Rep. Ward can be reached by phone at 651-296-4333 or by email at rep.john.ward@house.mn. Rep. Radinovich can be reach by phone at 651-296-2365 or email at rep.joe.radinovich@house.mn.