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Permanent LinkIowa Legislature Public Hearings
Public Hearings and times are as follows:
HF 2317 - A bill for an act relating to state revenue and finance by modifying the individual income tax, making appropriations, and including effective date and applicability provisions.(Formerly HSB 626.)
Sponsored by the Ways and Means Committee
Monday, February 14, 2022
5:00 PM (introductions begin)
6:00 PM (conclusion of the hearing)
RM 103, Sup. Ct. Chamber
02-10-2022
Marjena Sloan []
CON
The flat tax may seem like a break for those of us in the poor to poverty ranks but then I hear about increasing sales taxes and property taxes so where is this wonderful savings of the flat tax? Pretty much another stealing from Peter to cover for Paul's tax cuts.
02-10-2022
Brian Carter [Iowa United Methodist Church Legislative Advocacy Team]
CON
Thank you for this opportunity to share our thoughts and concerns. I am speaking as a lobbyist of the Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church.We are registered against the income tax changes proposed.The United Methodist is guided by three principles in regard to taxes. we shared with you the United Methodist Resolution A Call for Just Tax Structures which named three principles: (1) Protecting the Poor and Vulnerable: All tax decisions must be judged on their impact on the most vulnerable people. (2) Community: Tax and revenue systems enable governments to provide for the needs of the common good. (3) Justice: The burdens and benefits of our common life are shared equitably and proportionally among all.Based on these principles, the Legislative Advocacy Team made the Against declarations. We are happy to pay taxes which follow these principles. We support government policies which support the common good. We don't support policies that hurt the poor and reward the super wealthy.
02-11-2022
Robert Traer []
CON
A flat tax in a state with vast inequities of income and wealth is not a fair tax. A fair tax would tax those with greater income and wealth at a higher percentage rate and than those with fewer resources at a lower percentage rate.
02-11-2022
Eloise M. Cranke [State of Iowa]
CON
I'm writing to urge you to oppose HF 2317 and income tax cuts in general. First of all, as I understand it, much of the "surplus" is one time money that will vanish quickly. Once it's gone, or possibly even before that, the loss of income will likely be made up through sales tax (a very regressive tax!) and other fees, which hurt lowincome people the most. Second, a flat tax is even more unfair than our current tax structure. Once again, the wealthy gain the most, while lowincome people gain little or nothing. In addition, there are so many other better ways to use any surplus money there is. Education (public, not private schools!) has a critical shortage of funds; child care workers need support; infrastructure such as our roads and bridges need repair; and the list goes on. Please oppose income tax cuts!
02-11-2022
Steve Gude [non]
CON
We already have a flat tax in the state; it's called the sales tax and is regressive by its nature. In my view, personal income tax rates should be progressive. Here is what I would like to see:First, with the financial surplus that we have in Iowa, let's make sure that we are adequately funding education at all levels, Medicaid, environmental/conservation programs, social services, etc., before we look at cutting taxes.Second, if these areas are adequately funded and there is still some money left over, why not reduce the sales tax? If income taxes are to be reduced, the focus should be on middle and lower income Iowans.Thank you.
02-11-2022
Beth Lauterbach []
CON
A flat tax is not equitable. 4% of poverty or low income wages does not mean they have they have 96% to spend as they want. It just means that they have 96% minus all the taxes on day to day survival, going back to the state. Those with 96% of a comfortable living wage and above, have options to spend where they want, and save or invest what they want, including taking it out of the state.The same with big business. Justification for me would need to go beyond PAC Lobbyists info, and show a real life example.
02-11-2022
Julia Prendergast [Best Midwest Properties]
CON
Iowa is an amazing place to live but with taxes at the current rate we will lose great people to other states. Please stop with all the taxing.
02-12-2022
Anonymous [Butler Co. Democratic Central Committee member]
CON
Having spent time figuring out what a flat tax would do to my taxes, I believe this would be unfair to lower income persons like myself. This would increase my taxes, NOT decrease them.
02-12-2022
Anonymous [Self]
PRO
Thank you for considering my comments. I'll keep it short. income tax on our meager ira prevents my wife and I from performing much needed maintenance on our home. Please give us some tax relief.
02-12-2022
Anonymous []
PRO
Please support HF 2317 and provide funding for the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund according to the allocation formula originally approved by Iowa voters. Iowa is 49th in the nation in public land availability/ownership and even with a $1.4 billion state surplus natural resources, our State Parks facilities, wildlife areas, and funding for fish and wildlife research are backlogged and underfunded. Despite rhetoric from commercial interests in Iowa surveys show that over 70% of Iowans support funding the Trust Fund.
02-12-2022
David Rust []
CON
I will have serious benefits from this proposal. I do not want or need them. If passed this will mean Iowans with less income will feel a significant negative impact on their pocketbook. Please vote NO.
02-12-2022
Lois Gorman []
PRO
The tax that impacts seniors the most, I feel, is the property tax. 27% of my social security goes to property tax on my home. I live in a two bedroom, 960 sq ft, 1970 built home in the Altoona city limits.An example of a way to keep seniors from being forced to move out of the state would be to freeze the cost of property tax at the dollar amount of tax at retirement, or at age 65. Rules would have to be set, but then the tax is frozen at that level as long as it is the primary residence of the home owner(s). Execptions would be things like x number of months in a care facility. etc.Even the high tax state of California has had this in place for decades. They even allow the tax to be frozen until the property is sold.
02-12-2022
Jackie Peters []
PRO
I am in favor of this bill if it funds the Natural Resources Trust Fund. Please include that in this bill. Thank you.
02-12-2022
Michel Murphy []
CON
Please leave the current taxation system in place.A flat tax is not a fair way to tax income it will shift the tax burden to those with lower income and benefit those with high incomes. A progressive income tax is the fairest income tax. If you want to benefit all citizens cut the sales tax.michel murphy
02-12-2022
Anonymous [None ]
CON
Flat taxes are never fair taxes and particularly when it increases the rate of other flat taxes such as sales taxes. If the tax break can not be given to the poorest of Iowans then no Iowan needs a tax break. My property tax keeps going up because education is underfunded. Invest in Iowa schools instead of rich farmers pocket books.
02-13-2022
Barbara Minear []
CON
Conservation and outdoor recreation are very important to the quality of life in our state. A strong majority supported the formation of the Trust Fund and it is long overdue to fund it. I strongly believe that any tax reform this session should include funding of the Trust Fund.
02-13-2022
John Stark []
PRO
Reducing the complexity and rates of Iowa's income taxes will positively impact the citizens of our state, minimize the appeal of moving out of Iowa and attract new residents and businesses.I strongly support any efforts to reduce not only the tax rates Iowans pay but any efforts to slow and control government spending which will allow Iowans to keep more of the income they earn.HF 2317 is a great step in making Iowa an even great place to grow and live. I look forward to the day Iowa is no longer has one of the highest tax rates across America.
02-13-2022
Stephen P Dierickx [Dierickx Farms LLC]
PRO
Concern: It appears the state will lower their tax burden on the citizens at the expense of continual state regulation, that allows the Iowa counties to constantly increase their property tax burden on the citizens, but most specifically on farmers. What do you know about the Soybean Checkoff TAX?Probably not much or it would be significantly changed as it currently exists! Sign me up to speak if Iowa ever addresses the Iowa Soybean Checkoff TAX.
02-13-2022
Joseph Dygas [National Active & Retired Federal Employees]
PRO
I represent National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE). Iowa has about 22,000 total Iowa federal retirees and over 38,000 active federal employees (about 31% who are military veterans, work primarily for the Department of Veterans Affairs and US Postal Services). We thank Governor Reynolds, and Iowas Legislators for their hard work and budget decisionmaking. NARFE supports the all retirement income taxation exclusion.. At the same it is incorrect to overlook the remaining unfair taxation upon thousands of some of Iowa retirees who do not receive Social Security retirement income and/or Military or Railroad Retirement Pension. Those 500,000+ SS Retirees plus Military and Railroad Retirement Pensioners back to 2014, 2014, and 1934, respectively, have already received a 100% taxation exclusion. There are 12,000 federal Iowa retires and additionally, many Iowa State and City level Police and Firefighters retirees, because they receive no SS, rather a pension, receive ZERO taxation exclusion and only a $6K exemption. CSRS and those predescribed pensions are akin to SS. I am not referring to IPERS or a Keogh Plan, Traditional IRA, 401K, 403b, type of retirement account. SS recipients receive 100% taxation exclusion plus i.e. the IPERS type $6,000 exemption."NARFE supports this legislation on behalf of all Iowa senior citizens. A significant number of seniors are living day to day on limited income; at the same time they are dealing with the rapidly rising costs due to the accelerating inflation. To really make this bill have an immediate impact, we ask that this bill be amended to be effective this 2022 calendar year. The inflation is real now and the need to return those Iowa taxes to seniors is immediate; not starting at some future date.At the same time it is incorrect to overlook the remaining unfair taxation upon thousands of some of Iowa retirees who do not receive Social Security retirement income and/or Military or Railroad Retirement Pension. There are 12,000 federal Iowa retirees and additionally, many Iowa State and City level Police and Firefighters retirees, because they receive no SS, rather a pension, receive ZERO taxation exclusion. Please add legislative language for Iowans with SS substitutes to receive the Iowa 100% taxation exclusion on their SS Substitute pension (define them here, i.e. federal Civil Service Retirement System, etc.) retroactive to 2022. "Please add legislative language for Iowans with SS substitutes to receive the Iowa 100% taxation exclusion on their SS Substitute pension (define them here, i.e. federal Civil Service Retirement System, etc.) retroactive to 2022; and our remaining Traditional IRA, 401K, 403b type of retirement income exclusion starting in January 2023. Thank you.
02-13-2022
Dr Audrey M. Hiatt or Dorman Otte [National Active & Retired Federal Employees (NARFE)]
PRO
NARFE supports this legislation on behalf of all Iowa senior citizens. A significant number of seniors are living day to day on limited income; at the same time they are dealing with the rapidly rising costs due to the accelerating inflation. To really make this bill have an immediate impact, we ask that this bill be amended to be effective this 2022 calendar year. The inflation is real now and the need to return those Iowa taxes to seniors is immediate; not starting at some future date.At the same time it is incorrect to overlook the remaining unfair taxation upon thousands of some of Iowa retirees who do not receive Social Security retirement income and/or Military or Railroad Retirement Pension. There are 12,000 federal Iowa retirees and additionally, many Iowa State and City level Police and Firefighters retirees, because they receive no SS, rather a pension, receive ZERO taxation exclusion. Please add legislative language for Iowans with SS substitutes to receive the Iowa 100% taxation exclusion on their SS Substitute pension (define them here, i.e. federal Civil Service Retirement System, etc.) retroactive to 2022.
02-13-2022
Mary Kay Pence []
CON
Income is income it shouldn't matter if it comes from wages, rents, capital gains, investments, pensions, etc. FLAT ISN'T FAIR especially if certain income is exempt or treated differently. Taxes should progressive be based on the ability to pay. If a millionaire retiree owes no taxes the burden of providing the services that benefit all Iowans falls to younger less welloff Iowans. A massive cut to revenue would require a massive cut is services. Our schools have already fallen from #1 to 39 out of 50. Iowa is #1 in deficient bridges. Lower income Iowans already pay a larger portion of their income in regressive sales and property taxes.
02-14-2022
John Gulbranson []
CON
A flat tax may sound like it is fair, but a flat tax means one thing to a high income earner and something completely different to a low income earner. It is easy to talk about and pass lower taxes, it is more difficult to drill down and solve the real problems in Iowa. Look around, they are not to hard to see. That is what hard working Iowans are paying our legislators to do.
02-14-2022
Raymond Phillips []
CON
According to my accountant, decreasing the income taxes to 0% for everyone will only help the rich and will provide nothing for senior citizens or the middle class.As a senior citizen, of all my annual costs including insurance, medical, groceries and utilities, my property taxes are my highest cost. If you want to help senior citizens do something about home property taxes. The legislature recently set the property tax rollback for homes to 56% and the rollback on business property taxes to 90%. Since like businesses, senior citizens do not have children in schools and it is more economical for senior citizens to live in their own home, I suggest senior citizens above 65 years old get the same 90% rollback on property taxes as businesses an alternative would be to freeze property taxes at age 65.
02-14-2022
Cherie Miner [Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church]
CON
I am writing in opposition to a flat income tax rate. Instead, I support a just tax structure. Such a structure: protects the poor and vulnerable, raises revenue to support the common good, and shares the burden of support equitably and proportionally.Flat taxes are not equitable. Flat taxes allow those with the most to escape their responsibility to support the community, in this case, the State of Iowa.
02-14-2022
Jayne Thompson []
CON
I am a senior citizen and I am opposed to HF 2317 as this flat tax proposal is not fair taxation because: It does not benefit lower income households or Senior Citizens in Iowa. It will not help fund education,but rather it cause education to further have to decrease budgets and cut essential opportunities for children to learn. will cause property taxes to have to go up in the long term. It will cause the Flat Sales Tax to have to go up.This bill is not good for the state of Iowa because the tax burden should be fair and equitable for all citizens in Iowa.
02-14-2022
Anonymous [BakerStarrett LLP]
CON
While I appreciate the idea of the tax free rents or capital gains for retired farmers, I do think that there should be a cap on the amount that is tax free, particularly with rents (there are some VERY large retired farmer landlords out there). I also have to question why there is no provision for small business owners that is similar. In a day/age that most smaller towns are trying to survive, this would be a nice win for rural Iowa. Most small town business owners invest their life savings into the small business, just like a farmer invests their live savings in a farm. Why treat them differently for tax purposes?
02-14-2022
Anonymous []
CON
Help people who need help, not wealthy corporations. You are supposed to help Iowans, not wealthy and out of state corporations. Do your job and quit taking bribes.
02-14-2022
Teresa Mathews [- None -]
CON
I do not support HF 2317. Large Corporations do NOT need further Tax cuts or Loopholes. They need to pay their "fair share" to support IOWA citizens. HF 2317 puts the tax burden on Middle and Low Income families throughout the state of IA. That is not the correct choice. If there truly is a "surplus" then let those Tax Dollars be put to the following needs:PUBLIC SCHOOLS for all students in IAPUBLIC SCHOOLS to increase wages for teachersClean Water for all citizens in IAImproved support and access to Mental Health services for all citizens in IAFunding to rebuild Rural communities throughout IAMaintain Unemployment payments to families in transition or in seasonal work (Construction,etc)Put Taxes to WORK for the citizens of IOWA, NOT Corporations who continue to put profits above people.
02-14-2022
Pat Bowen []
CON
Iowans are hardworking people who take pride in a job well done. Republican policies are driving Iowans out of the workforce and out of the state. Their latest tax proposals will only make things worse because they continue a pattern of more corporate giveaways and tax breaks for the super rich.We need a tax plan that rewards work, not wealth. A fair tax that helps families. No giveaways to corporations, millionaires or special interests. Lower income taxes for middle class workers. A flat tax is not a fair tax. The state budge should be supported by an equitable tax system that middle and low income families pay less than corporations. We need to reform corporate tax credits to assure taxpayers dollars are used for public priorities such as our state park rangers and public schools. Public money for public good.
02-14-2022
02-14-2022
Jennifer Allen []
CON
A flat tax is inherently UNFAIR and regressive, placing undue tax burden on middle and lower income families, while benefiting only the wealthy. I am opposed to any flat tax framework.