It’s been announced that Jim Eads is leaving his position as Executive Director of the Federation of Tax Administrators (FTA) later this month, to return to the private sector. It’s no secret that I have many differences with the FTA. I object to their equating “taxes collected” and “tax burden,” since for instance Alaska collects lots of oil taxes but that number sheds no light on the tax burden borne by Alaska residents. I’m also skeptical of the ability of state tax collectors to act cooperatively in collecting interstate taxes, such as non-resident income taxes and sales taxes on electronic commerce. But Jim Eads is as gracious and has been as willing to listen as he has been eager to contest us where he thinks we’re wrong. He advocated well for his organization, but not to the point of discredit. His responses and comments made me a better thinker. I think the FTA was better for his presence, and I wish him the best of luck as he moves on to bigger and better things.
