Doing Tax Policy at the Ballot Is Not for the Faint of Heart
Some tax ballot initiatives will be straightforward, some will be complex, and—let’s be honest—some will be a drafting nightmare.
5 min readHow does Idaho’s tax code compare? Idaho has a flat 5.8 percent individual income tax rate. Idaho has a 5.8 percent corporate income tax rate. Idaho also has a 6.00 percent state sales tax rate and an average combined state and local sales tax rate of 6.03 percent. Idaho has a 0.47 percent effective property tax rate on owner-occupied housing value.
Idaho does not have an estate tax or inheritance tax. Idaho has a 33 cents per gallon gas tax rate and a $0.57 cigarette excise tax rate. The State of Idaho collects $4,541 in state and local tax collections per capita. Idaho has $3,135 in state and local debt per capita and has an 89 percent funded ratio of public pension plans. Overall, Idaho’s tax system ranks 16th on our 2024 State Business Tax Climate Index.
Each state’s tax code is a multifaceted system with many moving parts, and Idaho is no exception. The first step towards understanding Idaho’s tax code is knowing the basics. How does Idaho collect tax revenue? Click the tabs below to learn more! You can also explore our state tax maps, which are compiled from our annual publication, Facts & Figures 2024: How Does Your State Compare?
Some tax ballot initiatives will be straightforward, some will be complex, and—let’s be honest—some will be a drafting nightmare.
5 min readProperty taxes are the primary tool for financing local government and generating state-level revenue in some states as well.
5 min readAs Idaho attempts to further solidify its position as a growth-oriented, taxpayer-friendly state this special session, other states should look to its example and pursue similar reforms.
6 min readThe mix of tax sources states choose can have important implications for both revenue stability and economic growth, and the many variations across states are indicative of the different ways states weigh competing policy goals.
29 min readThe FDA’s proposal to ban flavored cigars would carry significant revenue implications for many state governments.
7 min readWhile many factors influence business location and investment decisions, sales taxes are something within policymakers’ control that can have immediate impacts.
12 min readIdaho Ballot initiative would impose an incredibly high top marginal rate that would fall on many small businesses, not just high-income earners.
7 min readAmong the 46 states that held legislative sessions this year, structural state tax reform and temporary tax relief measures were recurring themes.
13 min readIf the policy goal of taxing cigarettes is to encourage cessation, vapor taxation must be considered a part of that policy design.
4 min readAlthough the majority of state tax changes take effect at the start of the calendar year, some are implemented at the beginning of the fiscal year. Fourteen states have notable tax changes taking effect on July 1.
7 min read