Utah's surplus is expected to be large. How much money can taxpayers expect?

Volume 46 | July 2021 Newsletter

The Utah Taxpayer - July 2021

New Report Calculates How Much the Typical Utah Family Pays in Taxes and Fees

Have you ever been curious how much you pay across all major taxes in a year? The Utah Taxpayers Association has released a new annual report, titled “The Beehive Family - The Tax Burden of the Bob and Brooke Beehive Family”.

This new annual report examines the annual tax burden that the typical Utah family pays based on current tax policy and tax rates.

Read our new report

Cannon's Canon: Utah Will Have Another Huge Surplus - It Is Time for the Legislature To Return Money To Taxpayers Instead of Spending It

When the Utah Taxpayers Association held the 2021 Taxes Now Conference in May, we made the prediction that the State of Utah was very likely to end fiscal year 2021 with a fairly large surplus of around $300 million.

State government is taking in far more money than it needs to and Utah’s income tax rate has been stuck at essentially the same level for over 12 years.

How much will the surplus be?

Utah’s Drought: The Real Way to Encourage Conservation is Through a Change in Tax Policy

Municipal water prices in Utah are among the lowest in the nation, despite the fact that Utah is the second driest state.

Artificially low prices hide the actual cost of the water, making it appear less expensive than it actually is. If water prices rose to reflect water’s actual value, Utahns would conserve more water.

What needs to change?

Interim Committees Examine Possibility of Future Tax Cuts and Changing the Structure of Funding Transportation Infrastructure

Sales taxes are probably the most hidden form of the three major taxes (income, sales, and property). Income taxes you see on a paystub or when you file your taxes, and property tax is generally paid in one sum or through a mortgage company.

Sales taxes, on the other hand, are automatically calculated and added to the final price, without the consumer ever really thinking about it. In fact, most people probably don’t think of the total amount of sales taxes they pay annually.

What can Utah do better?

Congressman John Curtis Should Be Applauded For Reminding Taxpayers: Government Run Broadband Networks Don’t Work

For almost 20 years, the Utah Taxpayers Association has sounded the warning bell on the disastrous consequences of government run broadband networks here in Utah. Even the best run state in the nation has its share of blunders.

The Association found reason to stand and cheer after reading the latest op-ed from our very own Congressman John Curtis (R- CD3).

Read the op-ed.

Association Accomplishments in June

Published "The Beehive Family - The Tax Burden of the Bob and Brooke Beehive Family” report
Met with Senate Leadership and House Leadership to discuss tax policy
Reviewed city and school district budgets throughout the state
Discussed the new Beehive Family Report on the Rod Arquette Show on KNRS Radio and KSL Newsradio
Held our Teed Off on Taxes golf tournament
Attended the Center Right Coalition Meeting

In The News

Utahns are filling state coffers. So will we see a tax cut?

Salt Lake Tribune

Layton City proposing tax hike to replace vanishing county levy; other cities will follow

Standard Examiner