How do we petition no income taxes for a state?

[Anonymous]

Let different areas choose. I'd rather my part of the city become part of Bethesda, MD rather than part of DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love the commuter tax idea.

Too bad the jobs are all moving or have moved to virginia

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love the commuter tax idea.

That might have made sense 2 years ago but after a year of remote work, who would put up with that? No one will want to pay a premium to commute to DC when they can just work at home, or work in suburban offices. Law firms and other businesses would just set up workspaces in Tysons and Bethesda for their VA and MD residents.

I am moving my (very small) business out of DC. Clients used to care about our physical presence but now it's not important. And the fees and taxes for running a small business in DC are no longer worth it. No one will care about my business, but what happens if more consequential businesses make similar decisions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love the commuter tax idea.

That might have made sense 2 years ago but after a year of remote work, who would put up with that? No one will want to pay a premium to commute to DC when they can just work at home, or work in suburban offices. Law firms and other businesses would just set up workspaces in Tysons and Bethesda for their VA and MD residents.

I am moving my (very small) business out of DC. Clients used to care about our physical presence but now it's not important. And the fees and taxes for running a small business in DC are no longer worth it. No one will care about my business, but what happens if more consequential businesses make similar decisions?

Won’t a lot of revenue in the District dry up without a return of commuters? I’m not saying your wrong to move as it’s your business. Just wondering how DC plans to recover all the lost revenue from taxes if commuters don’t return.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love the commuter tax idea.

Never going to happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This proposal and even the idea of no federal income tax was floated 30 years ago by Jack Kemp / Libertarian Republicans, but shot down by many local activists as they feared it would create a "Monaco on the Potomac" of rich people 'living' (in name only) in DC and pricing everyone out of the housing market.

That seems like a fair worry. I do think city residents get a LOT of benefits from our relationship with the Feds. We have an equilibrium.

[Anonymous]

If DC charges our commuters, we'll charge their freight, power, water, sewer, trash, etc.

All the jobs that *can* be moved out of DC *will* be.

And I think DC Statehood might result in moving the Seat of the Federal Government. Perhaps to some BRAC'd base in the geographic center of the country. No residents. Transients only, during sessions of government. Federal Agencies can have their HQ's in all 50+ states.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If DC charges our commuters, we'll charge their freight, power, water, sewer, trash, etc.

All the jobs that *can* be moved out of DC *will* be.

And I think DC Statehood might result in moving the Seat of the Federal Government. Perhaps to some BRAC'd base in the geographic center of the country. No residents. Transients only, during sessions of government. Federal Agencies can have their HQ's in all 50+ states.

Yep. I am a DC resident super sad about the continued attempts to move headquarters of FBI out. Build a satellite sure, but FBI needs to stay. Without the Fed, what do we have going for us exactly? Our good looks?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If DC charges our commuters, we'll charge their freight, power, water, sewer, trash, etc.

All the jobs that *can* be moved out of DC *will* be.

And I think DC Statehood might result in moving the Seat of the Federal Government. Perhaps to some BRAC'd base in the geographic center of the country. No residents. Transients only, during sessions of government. Federal Agencies can have their HQ's in all 50+ states.

Yep. I am a DC resident super sad about the continued attempts to move headquarters of FBI out. Build a satellite sure, but FBI needs to stay. Without the Fed, what do we have going for us exactly? Our good looks?

Yeh dc is a dump and only held up by federal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love the commuter tax idea.

Not possible without statehood.

To me this is strangling the golden goose. DC would be nothing without the federal govt. and the business it brings. We should work towards tri-state agreeements (like everyone chipping in to metro) to increase flow between DC, MD. and VA. Would you like to be taxed when you drive out of DC to your Amazon job in Arlington or to visit the big box stores? Bad idea.

Commuter tax is an income tax. If you work in DC you would pay DC income taxes and then could deduct them from your Md or Va income taxes. Va and Md are okay with DC statehood nowcause many DC residents work outside the district. They would just retaliate to make up for lost revenue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If possible too would it be possible to add a tax over the bridges leading to and from VA into the district? This could generate significant $ and encourage people to be smarter regarding their commuting choices once we get back to normal conditions.

Bridges are all owned by different sources. Arlington memorial bridge is owned by NPS

I don’t think federal law allows this. DOT and the White House (through OMB) would need to approve it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If possible too would it be possible to add a tax over the bridges leading to and from VA into the district? This could generate significant $ and encourage people to be smarter regarding their commuting choices once we get back to normal conditions.

Bridges are all owned by different sources. Arlington memorial bridge is owned by NPS

I don’t think federal law allows this. DOT and the White House (through OMB) would need to approve it.

That would only apply to memorial and the interstates. DC and Va could toll Key and chain bridge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love the commuter tax idea.

Not possible without statehood.

To me this is strangling the golden goose. DC would be nothing without the federal govt. and the business it brings. We should work towards tri-state agreeements (like everyone chipping in to metro) to increase flow between DC, MD. and VA. Would you like to be taxed when you drive out of DC to your Amazon job in Arlington or to visit the big box stores? Bad idea.

Commuter tax is an income tax. If you work in DC you would pay DC income taxes and then could deduct them from your Md or Va income taxes. Va and Md are okay with DC statehood nowcause many DC residents work outside the district. They would just retaliate to make up for lost revenue.

D.C., MD, and VA already have a tax reciprocity. You don't have to pay taxes to the different states if you live in one and work in one of the other jurisdictions. You just pay to your state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This proposal and even the idea of no federal income tax was floated 30 years ago by Jack Kemp / Libertarian Republicans, but shot down by many local activists as they feared it would create a "Monaco on the Potomac" of rich people 'living' (in name only) in DC and pricing everyone out of the housing market.

That seems like a fair worry. I do think city residents get a LOT of benefits from our relationship with the Feds. We have an equilibrium.

....like what?

I pay taxes, have no representation in Congress, and the executive branch can come assault me and other citizens for no reason, with no warning, in public. And whatever security I mistakenly thought existed to protect federal institutions apparently doesn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why not just join Maryland? And then only a small portion downtown could be federal property (the mall, white house, congress, etc)

Maryland doesn’t want DC to join. Right now Annapolis and Baltimore are very happy being the seats of power in the state. If DC joins they lose their sway. And DC doesn’t want to join either... we like our unique identity.

Nobody wants DC.