From Rep. Linda Upmeyer –
We had a busy and productive week at the Capitol, as we accomplished a great deal of bipartisan work on behalf of Iowans. The number of bills eligible for floor debate is steadily increasing and we were able to advance many good pieces of legislation to the Senate for their consideration.
On Wednesday, the House passed legislation that will leave more money in Iowans’ pockets and reduce income taxes for Iowans across the state.
HF 478 gives Iowans a choice when paying their income taxes. On a year-to-year basis, Iowa taxpayers can choose to file their income taxes through the current system with no change, or utilize a 4.5 percent flat tax option with zero deductions or credits. The bill also raises the filing threshold so that the first $6235, or $12,450 for married couples, will not be taxed. Under this proposal, no one will pay higher income taxes, and it is estimated that approximately 490,000 Iowa taxpayers will see a reduction.
This legislation will make Iowa’s tax system simpler, flatter, and fairer.
The nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency (LSA) predicts that HF 478 would reduce Iowans’ overall tax burden by close to $400 million. It is also projected that with the flat tax option, the greatest number of taxpayers who will benefit fall in the $30,000 to $40,000 tax bracket. Those who choose this method will save an estimated $819 on average when filing their income taxes.
There is no doubt this bill will greatly benefit Iowa’s hardworking middle-class. Because Iowa’s current top tax rate starts with incomes as low as $67,000 per year, many middle income families are paying far more in state income taxes than they should.
In addition to saving Iowans more on their income taxes, the bill also establishes a permanent mechanism to return any overpayment of taxes back to the hardworking taxpayers of Iowa.
After the Legislature and Governor have agreed to a final budget that meets the priorities of Iowans, and our reserve funds are full, any further collection of taxpayer dollars is an overcollection by the state. This bill sends the overpayment of taxes to the Taxpayer Trust Fund, where it will be returned to Iowans through a credit on their tax forms. It is essential to ask ourselves a very simple, yet fundamental question, who does the money belong to: hard-working Iowans or the government?
HF 478 has been sent to the Senate, where we are hopeful it will be brought forth for further consideration.
This legislation is consistent, fair, and simple. Under this proposal, every Iowa taxpayer is treated the same. Each taxpayer is given a choice that will enable them to do what makes the most sense for their own household budget. Additionally, once the Legislature and Governor have gone through the state budget and determined what the cost will be to meet the priorities of Iowans, and we find ourselves with more revenue than necessary, we need to return the money to its rightful owners- the hardworking taxpayers of Iowa.
Thank you for providing me with your feedback over the past few weeks. It is always great to hear from you and I strongly value your input. Do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts and concerns anytime at linda.upmeyer@legis.iowa.gov or 515-281-4618.
wow all these posts remind me of a Jerry Springer show. And they call me crazy! LOL!
I’m arguementive? No. Just challenging blatent know it all statements and offering a different view. When in Rome…..
Standing up for the underdog is a dirty job but somebody has to do it.
One last comment for the day. Sick and stupid you might want to go to Mercy Monday and see if you qualify for an eye-rectum-e. It’s a simple procedure where they cut the tube running between your eyes and your butt to try to stop your crappy outlook on life. I’m sure the government will pay for it. Now I think I’ll go roll in some hundred dollar bills to relax.
What a jerk-off jackass. Let people you know your real name and watch those 100 dollar bills spread their little wings and fly away.
what is your real name brickless?
LVSs Sick and stupid is the golden example of how this crap for brains president is ruining our country. He preaches hatred for the people who have done well for themselves and increases programs for the leech society to lazy to get off their 300 pound fat butts and earn a living. I take pride that I have done well for myself (there’s a key phrase here sick and stupid) and have never expected anyone to do it for me instead of living a life insane with envy of others. Theres more to life than waiting for the mail and your next unearned bloodsucker check. Thank god for free enterprise and drug laws.
What does drug laws have to do with free enterprise?
Most likely thinks you should be able to sell drugs in the free market.
Your comment about the 300 lb lazy people you do realize that your only talking about maybe 5-6% of welfare recipients.
is there a problem with the welfare system, yes. Do you punish the whole for the few? no
A flat tax sounds good in planning but in execution it is unjust. You end up punishing those on the lower end of the Income Spectrum (those on fixed income, teens, people who love there job’s but don’t make a lot) Which is unfair to those.
A better Option is to fix the tax scales if the beginning of the High income tax is $67,000 raise it to 100,000
Better watch out. The know nothing crowd will be howling about how stupid you are in a minute.
Tsk, tsk, tsk. Such butt hurt losers. LVS is mad because he’s been exposed as a racist, Maybe doesn’t get it, and blog of many names is just plain argumentative.
That’s ok. I’m watching out for you morons.
Oh – I almost forgot. You’re also really, really dumb. This is state income tax. It has nothing to do with welfare, which is federally funded. You can go back to cartoons now.
As I knew sick and stupid would be the first to complain for it might mean one less handout to her. There’s more to life than being a bloodsucker living off those willing to work. One big boo hoo to you.
@blog-sicak and stupid and brickforbrains are both welfare baby’s who depend on the socialist government to keep them fed. That’s all they know or will ever know. Both are pot heads with FRIED BRAINS. Sicka on top of that is the worst BIGOT on this site. Of course she is against anything that might be good for the country. Just another selfish, spoiled bigot.
Of course all the uninformed neocons will cheer this uneven bill. It means more money will be held at the top of the scale, and they’re too dense to realize they’re being played for chumps by the party of NO.
I knew LVS would be the first one to post – never let a little thing like illiteracy get in the way of a display of ignorance.
@sicka-and this from the Great Mason City Bigot.
@stupid, if the first 6300 or so isn’t taxed you would think that the upper class would get there faster than the middle class therefore pay more in taxes. Thats in the real world, now the world you are talking about, I guess I don’t know what world that would be. The math I took in school says the upper class would be paying a lot more in taxes than the rest of us.
@maybe-you can not argue with a sexually repressed, overweight, unhappy fat woman with illegitimate children to feed on welfare. Then you combine all of that stress with worrying about the Republicans cutting off her welfare and you can see why she is so angry. To call someone racist who is married to a Mexican is pretty STUPID. They are just not logical.
My, my, my. Such a poor loser! I can’t help it if you’re this uninformed and uneducated!
Since you’re now reduced to hateful name calling and outrageous insults, you have answered every question I’ve ever had about you.
Pathetic, lonely friendless man. I’m sorry for you.
@Sick and Stupid-If I recall and I do, you started it. It must be real tough to be that unhappy and jealous of what other people have. To go through life with so little self respect with such a poor attitude must it be very hard for you to understand that there is a better way to live. Is that why you are so angry and jealous all of the time. You need not worry to much, there will always be welfare and drugs for someone like you. I regret calling you names as you can not help the way you are and I should be offering support and assistance to someone who needs the help as desperately as you. Please forgive a old man who just lost his temper for awhile.
Iowa taxes are very high. Mason City property tax is very high. Iowa seems very socialist compared with other areas I’ve lived. Yet socially conservative.
The worst of both worlds. They take your money AND tell yo how to live!
No thanks. Not in this life time, sorry. Maybe next time.
Good bill that will benefit everyone in the state. It’s about time they went to this type of tax. Of course the liberals will scream about it because they won’t have as much money to give away.