Tax Policy

Consumption tax proposal to eliminate Nebraska property taxes fails to advance

Consumption tax proposal to eliminate Nebraska property taxes fails to advance

If you listened to the Nebraska Legislature debate today you would have heard the following quotes from multiple members: “Our tax code is antiquated and was written in a time before the internet existed and before people and businesses were as mobile as they are today.” “People are mad about their property taxes.” “Nebraska can...

By Sarah Curry

Laura Ebke talks job licensing and Truth in Taxation on LIBA livestream

Laura Ebke talks job licensing and Truth in Taxation on LIBA livestream

Platte Institute Senior Fellow Laura Ebke joined Bud Synhorst of the Lincoln Independent Business Association to discuss Nebraska’s progress on job licensing reform and an advancing property tax transparency measure.

Podcast: How the Unicameral Decides Tax Policy

Podcast: How the Unicameral Decides Tax Policy

Sarah Curry joins Jim Vokal to discuss a week full of tax policy-related proposals in Lincoln. Mentioned on this episode: Nebraska forecasting board increases two-year revenue projections LB644: Truth in Taxation – Direct Notification of Property Tax Increase Hearings

Nebraska forecasting board increases two-year revenue projections

Nebraska forecasting board increases two-year revenue projections

Nebraska’s Economic Forecasting Advisory Board met today to confirm the state’s positive outlook on tax collections. Because the state of Nebraska operates under a biennial, or two-year budget, the forecasting board only holds it April meeting every other year. Their annual meetings occur in October and February. This meeting was different from most because of...

By Sarah Curry

Tax attorney, community philanthropist, bring new perspectives to Platte Institute board

Tax attorney, community philanthropist, bring new perspectives to Platte Institute board

Jo Ellen Stock, Assistant Vice President of State and Local Taxes for Union Pacific, and Lori Scott, an Omaha-area philanthropist with a background in education and health care, have been elected to the Platte Institute’s board of directors. The board of directors currently has 11 members who are responsible for overseeing the organization’s mission and...

Corporate income is a factor to state’s continued revenue growth

Corporate income is a factor to state’s continued revenue growth

April is a very important month in the government world. Typically, that is when the tax filing deadline occurs, and budget writers get to see if the state collected as much tax revenue as they anticipated. However, this has been slightly altered for 2021, with Nebraska electing to extend the filing deadline to May 17, 2021...

By Sarah Curry

GILTI: What is it, and why does Nebraska need to focus on it?

GILTI: What is it, and why does Nebraska need to focus on it?

GILTI stands for Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income. GILTI is a category of income that is earned abroad by U.S.-controlled foreign corporations and is subject to special treatment under the U.S. tax code, as well as states that levy a corporate income tax. This special treatment of foreign earned income is intended to prevent erosion of...

By Sarah Curry

Podcast: Joe Bishop-Henchman on Nebraska Tax Reform & the American Rescue Plan

Podcast: Joe Bishop-Henchman on Nebraska Tax Reform & the American Rescue Plan

Joe Bishop-Henchman is no stranger to Nebraska tax issues. He discusses his new role at the National Taxpayers Union Foundation, where he’s challenging federal authorities who may seek to limit Nebraska’s control over its own tax and budget policies. Mentioned on this episode: Letter:  NTU Requests Clarification on State Tax Provision in American Rescue Plan...

Direct notification of property tax hearings advances in Legislature

Direct notification of property tax hearings advances in Legislature

LB644, otherwise known as a Truth in Taxation bill, passed first round debate in the Nebraska Legislature, 36-1. Nine members were “present not voting.” The legislation moves Nebraska one step closer to providing more taxpayer engagement and transparency when local governments increase their property tax request. Under an approved amendment, LB644 will apply only to a county, city,...

By Sarah Curry

Sales tax revenue is contributing to Nebraska surplus

Sales tax revenue is contributing to Nebraska surplus

While our state and nation continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on our economy, it is clear that Nebraska’s sales tax is a contributing factor to the state’s resiliency. Sales tax data released by the Department of Revenue gives us an itemized list of each city and county and their net taxable sales...

By Sarah Curry

Kansas passes property tax transparency law

Kansas passes property tax transparency law

Lawmakers in Kansas have adopted a new law (SB13) that would directly notify property taxpayers about hearings on local tax increases resulting from higher property valuations. The policy, also known as Truth in Taxation, shares similarities with Nebraska state Sen. Ben Hansen’s 2021 priority bill, LB644. The Kansas Legislature passed this legislation last year, but...

By Adam Weinberg

State leaders seek answers from Washington on tax modernization

State leaders seek answers from Washington on tax modernization

Just days after the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) passed both houses of Congress and was singed into law by President Biden, many started questioning various provisions in the legislation.  The one that has given the most pause is the provision that says states cannot cut taxes if they take relief money. A group of...

By Sarah Curry

Nebraska extends 2020 tax filing deadline: 3 reasons you might need more time

Nebraska extends 2020 tax filing deadline: 3 reasons you might need more time

This week, the IRS announced that Tax Day is being pushed back to May 17 to give Americans more time to prepare and pay their federal taxes, and in a news conference, Gov. Pete Ricketts announced that the Nebraska Department of Revenue will follow suit. The extension for filing and payment is for everyone except...

By Adam Weinberg

Iowa Senate advances tax relief, Nebraska should take note

Iowa Senate advances tax relief, Nebraska should take note

It’s no secret Iowa has high taxes and an outdated tax code. Their state legislature recognized that when it enacted a tax reform package in 2018 that phased in changes to modernize their tax system. Iowa did a lot of what Nebraska lawmakers aim to do: Reduce top tax rates, expand the sales tax base,...

By Sarah Curry