State tax collections during the pandemic
In Kansas, as in many states, tax revenues have not been a problem. (more…)
07
Jul
03
Jul
Kansas tax revenue, June 2021
For June 2021, Kansas tax revenue was 14.8 percent greater than June 2020. Over the twelve months of the current fiscal year, revenue is 26.4 percent higher than at the same point of the previous year. There are important caveats to consider. (more…)
24
Jun
Income tax rates and taxes paid
Is there a relationship between marginal tax rates and tax dollars collected? Not much. (more…)
04
Jun
Kansas tax revenue, May 2021
For May 2021, Kansas tax revenue was 134.7 percent greater than May 2020. Over the eleven months of the current fiscal year, revenue is 27.7 percent higher than at the same point of the previous year. There are important caveats to consider. (more…)
05
May
Kansas tax revenue, April 2021
For April 2021, Kansas tax revenue was 69.9 percent greater than April 2020. Over the ten months of the current fiscal year, revenue is 19.5 percent higher than at the same point of the previous year. There are caveats to consider. (more…)
02
Apr
Quarterly tax collections
Tax collections by state and local governments fell by about one percent during calendar year 2020 when compared to the year before. Tax collection data from the United States Census Bureau shows state and local government tax collections falling only slightly during 2020, despite the effects of the pandemic. (more…)
01
Apr
Kansas tax revenue, March 2021
For March 2021, Kansas tax revenue was 12.7 percent greater than March 2020. Over the nine months of the current fiscal year, revenue is 14.0 percent higher than at the same point of the previous year. (more…)
05
Mar
Kansas tax revenue, February 2021
For February 2021, Kansas tax revenue was 1.7 percent greater than February 2020. Over the eight months of the current fiscal year, revenue is 14.2 percent higher than at the same point of the previous year. Tax reports from the State of Kansas for February 2021 show tax revenues falling from the previous month, but higher than the same month the prior year, despite the effects of the response to the pandemic. The fall from January is characteristic of the seasonal pattern. When reporting on Kansas tax collections, the comparison is usually made to the estimated collections. Those estimates were…
14
Feb
Say no to special tax treatment, again
In Kansas, a company seeks to avoid paying property taxes, again. In a bill presented in the Kansas Legislature, the owner of health clubs seeks to avoid paying property taxes. The same company and its owner have tried this before. In 2014, I explained how granting this exemption was a bad idea. What has changed since then? This exemption is still a bad idea for reasons of public policy. Additionally, Brandon Steven, the owner of the health clubs, plead guilty to a gambling charge and forfeited one million dollars in earnings. The companies also owe a lot of the tax…
02
Feb
Kansas tax revenue, January 2021
For January 2021, total Kansas tax revenue was 9.7 percent greater than January 2020. Over the seven months of the current fiscal year, tax revenue is 15.5 percent higher than at the same point of the previous fiscal year. (more…)
15
Jan
Wichita property tax rate: Up
The City of Wichita property tax mill levy rose slightly for 2020. In 1994 the City of Wichita mill levy rate -- the rate at which real and personal property is taxed -- was 31.290. In 2020 it was 32.749, based on the Sedgwick County Clerk. That's an increase of 1.459 mills, or 4.66 percent, since 1994. (These are for taxes levied by the City of Wichita only, and do not include any overlapping jurisdictions.) (more…)
05
Jan
Kansas tax revenue, December 2020
For December 2020, total Kansas tax revenue was 1.8 percent greater than last December 2019. Over the six months of the current fiscal year, tax revenue is 16.6 percent higher than at the same point of the previous fiscal year. (more…)
01
Jan
Updated: Kansas hotel guest tax collections
Kansas hotel guest tax collections presented in an interactive visualization. Updated with data through November 2020. (more…)
02
Dec
Kansas tax revenue, November 2020
For November 2020, total Kansas tax revenue was 4.3 percent greater than last November. Over the five months of the current fiscal year, tax revenue rose by 20.6 percent. Tax reports from the State of Kansas for November 2020 show tax revenues falling from the previous month, but higher than the same month last year, despite the effects of the response to the pandemic. When reporting on Kansas tax collections, the comparison is usually made to the estimated collections. Those estimates were revised in April based on economic conditions affected by the response to the pandemic. To get a feel…
03
Nov
Kansas tax revenue, October 2020
For October 2020, total Kansas tax revenue was 7.9 percent greater than last October. Over the four months of the current fiscal year, tax revenue rose by 24.4 percent. Tax reports from the State of Kansas for October 2020 show tax revenues falling from the previous month, but higher than the same month last year, despite the effects of the response to the pandemic. When reporting on Kansas tax collections, the comparison is usually made to the estimated collections. Those estimates were revised in April based on economic conditions affected by the response to the pandemic. To get a feel…
01
Oct
Kansas tax revenue, September 2020
For September 2020, total Kansas tax revenue fell by 2.0 percent from last September. Over the three months of the current fiscal year, tax revenue rose by 29.7 percent. Tax reports from the State of Kansas for September 2020 show tax revenues falling from the previous month, and still recovering from the effects of the response to the pandemic. When reporting on Kansas tax collections, the comparison is usually made to the estimated collections. Those estimates were revised in April based on economic conditions affected by the response to the pandemic. To get a feel for the effects of the…
25
Sep
In Kansas, explanations for tax collections may vary
Kansas officials have explanations for low tax collections, but don't mention the same contributing factor when touting high collections. In March, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, in response to the COVID-10 pandemic, delayed the due date for Kansans to file and pay income taxes from April 15, 2020 to July 15, 2020. [1. Executive order 20-13. Available at https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/EO-20-13-Executed.pdf.] This change was bound to affect state tax collections for April, and it did. When presenting tax collections for the month of April 2020, the Department of Revenue explained: "As predicted, the State of Kansas saw a decrease in total tax collections…
20
Sep
Deficit shrank in August, but …
The top takeaway of the Congressional Budget Office Monthly Budget Review for August 2020 is that the deficit for the month is smaller than last August. But there are details. Sometimes it pays to read the fine print. Otherwise, you may receive a false impression. Here is the monthly budget review for August 2020, which is the eleventh month of fiscal year 2020: The federal budget deficit in August 2020 was $198 billion, CBO estimates, $3 billion less than the deficit in August of last year. However, that comparison is distorted by shifts in the timing of certain payments in…
11
Sep
Kansas general fund spending and receipts
The Kansas budget is volatile, with rising spending and a large deficit. Figures from Kansas financial reports show that state spending has risen. Based on that and shifts in revenue flows, deficits are large. The following tables and charts show actual data through fiscal year 2019. Figures for 2020 are revised estimates, and for 2021, the figures are from the approved budget. The primary source of data is Kansas Comparison Report: The FY 2021 Governor’s Budget Report with Legislative Authorizations. [2. Kansas Division of the Budget, Kansas Comparison Reports. Available at https://budget.kansas.gov/comparison-reports/.] The revised estimate of receipts is $826.9 million…
02
Sep
Kansas tax revenue, August 2020
For August 2020, total Kansas tax revenue fell by 43 percent from July, reflecting the tax deadline postponement from April to July. Tax reports from the State of Kansas for August 2020 show tax revenues recovering from the effects of the response to the pandemic. When reporting on Kansas tax collections, the comparison is usually made to the estimated collections. Those estimates were revised in April based on economic conditions affected by the response to the pandemic. To get a feel for the effects of the response to the pandemic, it is best to compare to the same month the…