Read it and weep Burbites: DC Taxes Lowest

[jsteele]

http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9364/taxes-lowest-for-dc-residents-and-carfree-virginians/

"The study looked at a variety of hypothetical families in three income levels: renters earning $50,000 in annual income, and homeowners earning $100,000 or $200,000. For each case, it totals the likely income, property, and car taxes being paid for singles or married couples without children or with 2 children.

"In almost all scenarios, DC's tax burden is the lowest. The major exception is single households without or with children, where taxes are lower in Virginia. For married couples, Virginia's taxes rise above DC's mostly due to the car tax."

Plus, our Council Chairman drive nicer cars

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9364/taxes-lowest-for-dc-residents-and-carfree-virginians/

"The study looked at a variety of hypothetical families in three income levels: renters earning $50,000 in annual income, and homeowners earning $100,000 or $200,000. For each case, it totals the likely income, property, and car taxes being paid for singles or married couples without children or with 2 children.

"In almost all scenarios, DC's tax burden is the lowest. The major exception is single households without or with children, where taxes are lower in Virginia. For married couples, Virginia's taxes rise above DC's mostly due to the car tax."

Plus, our Council Chairman drive nicer cars

I thought he just returned it for a Smart car - or was it a membership in Zipcar?

[Anonymous]

I have to question the results. The reason Virginia taxes appear so high is solely because of the car tax. The study estimates a $2,000 annual car tax for a two-car family making $200K. What kind of cars do they drive? I don't see it footnoted. Our income is higher than that, and our total car tax bill last year was $350.00 (2005 Saab and 2004 BMW). So maybe if you had two 2010 Mercedes 500s ....

so the study appears to inflate the average car's value to cook the books.

plus, how can you leave out sales tax?

[Anonymous]

The $2,000 annual car tax would be if your cars were assessed at $50K every year. Cars depreciate very fast. So if your families buys two new $35K cars every two years, you would probably have a $2,000 car tax I suppose. If you keep your cars 5-7 years each, your car taxes would be considerably lower.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have to question the results. The reason Virginia taxes appear so high is solely because of the car tax. The study estimates a $2,000 annual car tax for a two-car family making $200K. What kind of cars do they drive? I don't see it footnoted. Our income is higher than that, and our total car tax bill last year was $350.00 (2005 Saab and 2004 BMW). So maybe if you had two 2010 Mercedes 500s ....

so the study appears to inflate the average car's value to cook the books.

plus, how can you leave out sales tax?

Because you could "theoretically" live in Maryland and do all your shopping in DC or vice versa, or do all your shopping online and thus pay sales tax to some other jurisdiction. The sales tax can not be accounted for and accurately calculated as the income & property taxes can for residents.

My biggest takeaway is that being wealthy in DC is not as bad as many make it out to seem. Maryland is just plain terrible. Of course there is a $20k-$30k "tax" that is imputed when you add the cost of private schools in DC which throws the whole thing out of whack.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have to question the results. The reason Virginia taxes appear so high is solely because of the car tax. The study estimates a $2,000 annual car tax for a two-car family making $200K. What kind of cars do they drive? I don't see it footnoted. Our income is higher than that, and our total car tax bill last year was $350.00 (2005 Saab and 2004 BMW). So maybe if you had two 2010 Mercedes 500s ....

so the study appears to inflate the average car's value to cook the books.

plus, how can you leave out sales tax?

Yeah I agree. When I was married in VA (up til recently) our car tax was about $300 per vehicle, for each vehicle. Far cry from $2000!

Also to me it's about, what do you get for the taxes you pay? Regular trash pick up? Safe streets? Schools you can actually send your kids to? Decent water?

VA could be more expensive by far and I'd still want to live there.

[Anonymous]

Lovely. But your title presumes that taxes are the only reason that those of us outside the District choose to live there.

Value of services received per dollar paid in taxes
School quality
Just preferring a less urban environment (admittedly, my DH rather than me)
whatever other reasons people have

It's not just about the taxes.

[Anonymous]

Also to me it's about, what do you get for the taxes you pay? Regular trash pick up? Safe streets? Schools you can actually send your kids to? Decent water?

Hate to tell you this, but I get my trash picked up twice weekly, my streets are safe, I have nice city parks within walking distance, send my kids to a great charter, and NOVA water comes from the same place as DC water, doesn't it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lovely. But your title presumes that taxes are the only reason that those of us outside the District choose to live there.

Value of services received per dollar paid in taxes
School quality
Just preferring a less urban environment (admittedly, my DH rather than me)
whatever other reasons people have

It's not just about the taxes.

Agreed. And taxes aren't the only reason why people choose to live IN the District

Services: I get everything I need
Schools: Wanted to go private anyway.
Envirnonment: Mine feels really un-urban even though we try to act like it is urban
Other reasons: Shorter commute to and from work etc

It is always to each it's own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lovely. But your title presumes that taxes are the only reason that those of us outside the District choose to live there.

Value of services received per dollar paid in taxes
School quality
Just preferring a less urban environment (admittedly, my DH rather than me)
whatever other reasons people have

It's not just about the taxes.

Agreed. And taxes aren't the only reason why people choose to live IN the District

Services: I get everything I need
Schools: Wanted to go private anyway.
Envirnonment: Mine feels really un-urban even though we try to act like it is urban
Other reasons: Shorter commute to and from work etc

It is always to each it's own.

10:06 here. Thanks, exactly my point! Hopefully we're all happy wherever we are. I love my neighborhood, but there are things I don't like. I think there are parts of living on the Hill or maybe in Cleveland Park that I'd love, too. or not. Doesn't make one better or worse!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lovely. But your title presumes that taxes are the only reason that those of us outside the District choose to live there.

Value of services received per dollar paid in taxes
School quality
Just preferring a less urban environment (admittedly, my DH rather than me)
whatever other reasons people have

It's not just about the taxes.

Agreed. And taxes aren't the only reason why people choose to live IN the District

Services: I get everything I need
Schools: Wanted to go private anyway.
Envirnonment: Mine feels really un-urban even though we try to act like it is urban
Other reasons: Shorter commute to and from work etc

It is always to each it's own.

10:06 here. Thanks, exactly my point! Hopefully we're all happy wherever we are. I love my neighborhood, but there are things I don't like. I think there are parts of living on the Hill or maybe in Cleveland Park that I'd love, too. or not. Doesn't make one better or worse!

That should settle it and it most cases with sane people it would, but this is DCUM and so the war will never end.