State Taxes

By essentially any measure, Georgia is a low-tax, low-regulation, business-friendly state. So, why does Georgia’s business tax climate rank 34th in the nation in the Tax Foundation’s latest report?
The Tax Foundation’s business climate rankings are not a meaningful measure of a state’s overall business friendliness. The rankings do not… [Read more]

Many Georgia policymakers and business leaders contend the state has a shortage of venture capital, a form of business financing that helps fund early stage companies.  To remedy this problem, some Georgia leaders are considering CAPCO legislation, an expensive tax credit program advertised as a jobs and economic development bill.… [Read more]

This policy brief provides an overview of the financial performance and expenditure activity related to the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST) initiatives for Atlanta Public Schools, City Schools of Decatur, DeKalb County School System and Fulton County School System. Download the PDF.

State revenues will decrease by almost $100 million in FY 2012 due to five tax bills signed by the governor. This report looks at the official fiscal notes of tax bills passed by the House and Senate and signed by the governor that will affect state revenue. [Read more]

Tax reform might be dead for legislative session, but there are several tax bills still in play. The policy brief provides an update on bills altered by the House or Senate that now await agreement. Download the PDF.

When fully implemented, tax changes in HB 388 will result in an annual revenue loss of $141 million to $185 million—revenue losses Georgia can’t afford. This fact sheet provides an overview of significant changes to the revised bill. Download the PDF.

Georgia currently has the fourth lowest cigarette tax nationally with a per pack rate of 37 cents. Increasing the per pack tax rate by $1 would generate at least $350 million, which could be used to offset some of the proposed cuts to health care. Download the PDF.

House Bill 387 includes some positive steps in tax reform, but misses several key opportunities. This policy brief provides recommendations for improving the bill in committee before it proceeds for an up-or-down vote by the House and Senate. Download the PDF.

Three tax bills passed by the House of Representatives will cost an estimated $93 million in FY 2012, according to Georgia State University Fiscal Research Center’s official fiscal notes on the bills. Download the PDF.
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Adding Up the Fiscal Notes 2011

Undocumented immigrants in Georgia annually contribute an estimated $407 million in state and local taxes. This fact sheet provides an updated estimate for the 2006 Georgia Budget & Policy Institute report. Download the PDF.