Governor Walker, Speaker Vos Agree to Tax Relief Package
Budget surplus returns to taxpayers through one-time child sales tax rebate and sales tax holiday under agreement
MADISON – Governor Scott Walker and Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) announced an agreement to return the state’s budget surplus to taxpayers through a one-time child sales tax rebate and sales tax holiday in 2018.“As I promised, when we have a surplus, we will give it back to you. It’s your money,” Governor Walker said. “So, if you’ve got three kids at home under the age of 18, that’s $300 more this year for new shoes, coats, activity fees at school, or a co-pay at the doctor or dentist. Plus, we want to provide a sales tax holiday which comes right in time for back-to-school supplies.”
As Governor Walker proposed in his State of the State Address, families across Wisconsin would receive $100 for every child living at home under 18 through a check in the mail this year. Under the agreement with Speaker Vos, when parents make the claim with the state online, they would also have the option to donate the amount to charitable causes, which are currently part of the state tax check-off program.
The legislation sets the new sales tax holiday for August 4-5, 2018. Consumers would be exempt from paying state sales tax on all retail “off the shelf” items up to $100. The exemption would not apply to the sale of taxable services, prepared food, motor vehicles, motor vehicle parts, tangible or intangible property used to access telecommunications services, tangible or intangible property provided by a utility, or alcohol and tobacco products.
“We know that the hardworking taxpayers in Wisconsin deserve a break,” said Speaker Vos. “It’s great to be in a position that we can return the dollars that taxpayers overpaid.”
According to the Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR), the child tax credit rebate is estimated at $122.1 million in fiscal year 2018. DOR also estimates the one-time sales tax holiday cuts taxes by roughly $50 million in fiscal year 2019.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
