Contact: Marsha Richards, Communications Director
(360) 956-3482

April 27: Washington Tax Freedom Day

(OLYMPIA) – In an ironic but fitting twist, Tax Freedom Day for Washington citizens is April 27 this year, the same day the state legislature is scheduled to adjourn.

Calculated by the D.C.-based Tax Foundation, Tax Freedom Day measures how long the average citizen must work each year to pay federal, state and local taxes. It assumes for illustrative purposes that "income is earned evenly throughout the year and that individuals initially devote all of their earnings to paying their taxes."

The average taxpayer in Washington will work 117 days to pay taxes this year. By comparison, the average American only works 105 days out of the year to pay for food, shelter and clothing combined.

Washington ranks sixth highest in the nation for total tax burden, with citizens here paying an average of $10,980 per capita (or 32.1 percent of their average income) each year in taxes.

"With some lawmakers hoping to raise taxes even more this year, it’s fitting that taxpayers celebrate their freedom from both on the same day," said Marsha Richards, Communications Director for the Olympia-based Evergreen Freedom Foundation. "Let’s hope we’re also celebrating a new state budget that’s balanced without new taxes."

Here are some other interesting facts about the day compiled from the annual report published by the national Tax Foundation.

NATIONAL

• National Tax Freedom Day was April 19 this year, meaning average Americans worked 109 days to pay taxes. This is the same day as last year and eight days earlier than in 2001. The record high year was 2000, when Americans worked until April 30 to pay taxes.
  
  
• In 1900, Tax Freedom Day was January 20, meaning Americans worked 20 days to pay taxes. The lowest year in the 20th century was 1912, when Tax Freedom Day was January 17. The last January date was in 1917.
  
  
• Taxes accounted for 5.7 percent of income in 1900. In 2000 they accounted for 33 percent. This year they account for 30 percent, with the drop being attributed to federal tax reductions and a slowing economy.
  
  
• The average American worked 105 days this year to pay for food, shelter and clothing combined. Medical care accounts for another 44 days. Recreation: 21 days. Clothing and accessories: 14 days. Transportation: 28 days (probably doesn’t take into account the days Washington citizens spend stuck in traffic). Savings: 11 days. Other: 46 days. (Taxes: 109 days.)
  
  
• The various taxes Americans work to pay include individual income taxes (42 days), social insurance taxes (30 days), sales and excise taxes (17 days), property taxes (11 days), and corporate income taxes (9 days).

STATE

• Washington’s Tax Freedom Day is April 27, ranking it 6th highest in the nation for total federal, state and local tax burden. States with higher tax burdens are Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, California and New Jersey.
  
  
• Washingtonians spend an average of $10,980 per capita (32.1 percent of income) to pay total federal, state and local taxes.
  
  
• Washington ranks 18th in the nation for total state and local tax burden. State citizens pay an average of $3,345 per capita (9.8 percent of income) to pay state and local taxes.
  
  
• Washingtonians rank 26th in the nation for state taxes paid per $1,000 of income ($67.44 average).

For additional information, contact the Tax Foundation at (202) 464-6200.

Evergreen Freedom Foundation P.O. Box 552, Olympia, WA 98507 Phone: (360) 956-3482, Fax: (360) 352-1874 Email: effwa@effwa.org