Delaware 2023-2024 Regular Session

Delaware House Bill HB149 Latest Draft

Bill / Draft Version

                            SPONSOR:      Rep. Collins & Sen. Hocker & Sen. Richardson       Reps. Hilovsky, Ramone, Shupe, Michael Smith, Yearick; Sens. Lawson, Wilson           HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY       HOUSE SUBSTITUTE NO. 1   FOR   HOUSE BILL NO. 149       AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 30 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PERSONAL INCOME TAXES.      

     

     SPONSOR:      Rep. Collins & Sen. Hocker & Sen. Richardson       Reps. Hilovsky, Ramone, Shupe, Michael Smith, Yearick; Sens. Lawson, Wilson     

SPONSOR: Rep. Collins & Sen. Hocker & Sen. Richardson
Reps. Hilovsky, Ramone, Shupe, Michael Smith, Yearick; Sens. Lawson, Wilson

 SPONSOR:  

 Rep. Collins & Sen. Hocker & Sen. Richardson 

 Reps. Hilovsky, Ramone, Shupe, Michael Smith, Yearick; Sens. Lawson, Wilson 

   

 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

 152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY 

   

 HOUSE SUBSTITUTE NO. 1 

 FOR 

 HOUSE BILL NO. 149 

   

 AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 30 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PERSONAL INCOME TAXES. 

   

      BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:       Section 1. Amend 515, Title 30 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:    515. Filing frequency and tax computation thresholds.    No later than November 15 each year, the Department of Finance shall publish the annual adjustments to all applicable thresholds , the new minimum filing thresholds under 1161(1) of this Title based on the income tax brackets as calculated in 1102(a) of this Title, and tax brackets established by 1102 of this Title  on the Division of Revenue Internet Website and engage in public outreach notifying businesses, employers, payroll processors, tax professionals, and the general public of the adjustments.   (e) Each tax bracket established after December 31, 2024 shall be adjusted for inflation by the percentage (if any) by which the Consumer Price Index prepared by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor for urban consumers, all items, for the 12-month period ending June 30 of the immediately preceding tax year, exceeds the Consumer Price Index for the 12-month period ending June 30 of the second-preceding tax year rounded to the nearest $50.   Section 2. Amend 1102, Title 30 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:    1102. Imposition and rate of tax; separate tax on lump-sum distributions.   (14) For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2013,  and before January 1, 2025,  the amount of tax shall be determined as follows:   2.2% of taxable income in excess of $2,000 but not in excess of $5,000;    3.9% of taxable income in excess of $5,000 but not in excess of $10,000;    4.8% of taxable income in excess of $10,000 but not in excess of $20,000;    5.2% of taxable income in excess of $20,000 but not in excess of $25,000;    5.55% of taxable income in excess of $25,000 but not in excess of $60,000; and    6.6% of taxable income in excess of $60,000.   (15) For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024, the amount of tax shall be determined by reference to paragraph (a)(14) of this section annually adjusted as set forth in 515(e) of this Title.   Section 3. Amend 1161(1), Title 30 of the Delaware Code, by striking said subsection in its entirety and substituting therefor the following:    1161. Persons required to make returns of income.   An income tax return with respect to the tax imposed by this chapter shall be made by the following:   (1) Every resident individual who   a. Is required to file a federal income tax return for the taxable year, or   b.1. For tax years beginning before January 1, 2025, is a single person and has for the taxable year adjusted gross income as modified by 1106 of this Title of more than $9,378, or   b.2. For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2025, has for the taxable year adjusted gross income as modified by 1106 of this Title of more than the applicable minimum filing threshold published under 515(d) of this Title, or   c.1. For tax years beginning before January 1, 2025, is a married individual who is entitled to file a joint federal income tax return for the taxable year and whose adjusted gross income for the taxable year as modified by 1106 of this Title, when combined with the adjusted gross income of the individuals spouse, is more than $15,449, or   c.2. For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2025, is a married individual who is entitled to file a joint federal income tax return for the taxable year, and whose adjusted gross income for the taxable year as modified by 1106 of this Title, when combined with the adjusted gross income of the individuals spouse, of more than the applicable minimum filing threshold published under 515(d) of this Title.   Section 4. This Act shall be effective for tax periods commencing after December 31, 2024.      

   

 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE: 

   

 Section 1. Amend 515, Title 30 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows: 

  515. Filing frequency and tax computation thresholds.  

 No later than November 15 each year, the Department of Finance shall publish the annual adjustments to all applicable thresholds , the new minimum filing thresholds under 1161(1) of this Title based on the income tax brackets as calculated in 1102(a) of this Title, and tax brackets established by 1102 of this Title  on the Division of Revenue Internet Website and engage in public outreach notifying businesses, employers, payroll processors, tax professionals, and the general public of the adjustments. 

 (e) Each tax bracket established after December 31, 2024 shall be adjusted for inflation by the percentage (if any) by which the Consumer Price Index prepared by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor for urban consumers, all items, for the 12-month period ending June 30 of the immediately preceding tax year, exceeds the Consumer Price Index for the 12-month period ending June 30 of the second-preceding tax year rounded to the nearest $50. 

 Section 2. Amend 1102, Title 30 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows: 

  1102. Imposition and rate of tax; separate tax on lump-sum distributions. 

 (14) For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2013,  and before January 1, 2025,  the amount of tax shall be determined as follows: 

 2.2% of taxable income in excess of $2,000 but not in excess of $5,000;  

 3.9% of taxable income in excess of $5,000 but not in excess of $10,000;  

 4.8% of taxable income in excess of $10,000 but not in excess of $20,000;  

 5.2% of taxable income in excess of $20,000 but not in excess of $25,000;  

 5.55% of taxable income in excess of $25,000 but not in excess of $60,000; and  

 6.6% of taxable income in excess of $60,000. 

 (15) For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024, the amount of tax shall be determined by reference to paragraph (a)(14) of this section annually adjusted as set forth in 515(e) of this Title. 

 Section 3. Amend 1161(1), Title 30 of the Delaware Code, by striking said subsection in its entirety and substituting therefor the following: 

  1161. Persons required to make returns of income. 

 An income tax return with respect to the tax imposed by this chapter shall be made by the following: 

 (1) Every resident individual who 

 a. Is required to file a federal income tax return for the taxable year, or 

 b.1. For tax years beginning before January 1, 2025, is a single person and has for the taxable year adjusted gross income as modified by 1106 of this Title of more than $9,378, or 

 b.2. For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2025, has for the taxable year adjusted gross income as modified by 1106 of this Title of more than the applicable minimum filing threshold published under 515(d) of this Title, or 

 c.1. For tax years beginning before January 1, 2025, is a married individual who is entitled to file a joint federal income tax return for the taxable year and whose adjusted gross income for the taxable year as modified by 1106 of this Title, when combined with the adjusted gross income of the individuals spouse, is more than $15,449, or 

 c.2. For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2025, is a married individual who is entitled to file a joint federal income tax return for the taxable year, and whose adjusted gross income for the taxable year as modified by 1106 of this Title, when combined with the adjusted gross income of the individuals spouse, of more than the applicable minimum filing threshold published under 515(d) of this Title. 

 Section 4. This Act shall be effective for tax periods commencing after December 31, 2024. 

   

      SYNOPSIS   This Act requires personal income tax brackets to be annually adjusted for cost-of-living increases. This will prevent tax rate increases resulting from cost-of-living pay increases that push lower income taxpayers into higher tax brackets. This is referred to as "bracket creep". Cost-of-living pay increases are intended to offset inflation and not create a greater tax burden on lower income taxpayers. Social justice requires that lower income taxpayers should not face both inflation and higher tax rates at the same time. This Act will be effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.      

   

 SYNOPSIS 

 This Act requires personal income tax brackets to be annually adjusted for cost-of-living increases. This will prevent tax rate increases resulting from cost-of-living pay increases that push lower income taxpayers into higher tax brackets. This is referred to as "bracket creep". Cost-of-living pay increases are intended to offset inflation and not create a greater tax burden on lower income taxpayers. Social justice requires that lower income taxpayers should not face both inflation and higher tax rates at the same time. This Act will be effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.