Alabama House Bill HB173

Alabama 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/18/22
• Refer: 1/18/22

Caption

Sales and use tax on food, exemption established, income tax deduction, deduction based on federal income tax paid, limit established, const. amend.

Impact

The exemption of food sales from state taxation aims to lower the cost of living for residents, particularly benefiting low- and middle-income families who tend to spend a higher proportion of their income on food. Local governments will still collect sales taxes on food, which could create a nuanced fiscal situation for county and city budgeting. However, the proposed limits on federal income tax deductions may impact higher earners and taxpayers in higher federal tax brackets, drawing both support and criticism from various stakeholders, including business organizations and advocacy groups for lower-income families.

Summary

House Bill 173 proposes significant changes to Alabama's tax structure by exempting sales of food from state sales and use taxes as of January 1, 2023. Additionally, the bill seeks to amend the existing state Constitution by limiting the deduction of federal income taxes for individual taxpayers. Specifically, taxpayers filing as single, head of household, or married filing separately would only be able to deduct a maximum of $4,000, while those filing jointly could deduct up to $8,000. The intent of the bill is to provide financial relief to households by reducing taxes on essential items while also maintaining a budgetary balance for the state.

Contention

Debate surrounding HB 173 is likely to focus on the balance between providing necessary tax relief through food exemptions and the consequences of restricting federal tax deductions. Critics argue that limiting deductions could disproportionately affect those who have higher liabilities owing to their income level, which could lessen the intended benefits of the food tax exemption. Similarly, there are concerns regarding the local government's capacity to maintain essential services if food sales tax revenue is curtailed in the long term. As such, the bill could deepen discussions on how to equitably balance state and local funding structures in Alabama.