Replacing property taxes with sales taxes would hurt everyday Oklahomans (Commentary)

This legislative session, property taxes have taken center stage at the Capitol. Lawmakers have filed dozens of proposals to cut, cap, or otherwise restrict property taxes, which help fund public schools and local community services. Yet many of those proposals… Read more [More...]

Paying property taxes: What’s in it for me?

At a time when calls for property tax cuts dominate headlines and dinner table debates, more people are asking a simple question: What’s in it for me? It’s a fair question. Why should I pay for services I don’t use,… Read more [More...]

Tax credits are anti-poverty tools | Oklahoma Senate Interim Study | Oct. 10, 2024

Targeted tax credits can be used as a tool to fight poverty in Oklahoma. The tax system is a critical part of the safety net with more than a third of all public support for U.S. families delivered through tax provisions. Hence, tax credits can drastically decrease poverty. [More...]

Tax proposals this session fail to deliver inflation relief, jeopardize state’s long-term fiscal health

Call to Action Contact your lawmakers to urge them to oppose across-the-board, untargeted tax cuts and other handouts for wealthy Oklahomans and out-of-state companies.  • Contact your lawmaker • Current Tax Cut Proposals Don’t Help Most Oklahomans [Printable PDF] With… Read more [More...]

The needs of everyday Oklahomans outweigh tax cuts that benefit the wealthy

As Oklahoma’s 2023 legislative session begins, the perennial push for tax cuts that would shrink state revenue will likely return. In 2022, leaders of the Oklahoma House of Representatives championed tax cuts – primarily focusing on reducing the personal income… Read more [More...]

Cutting taxes this year would be short-sighted and harmful

This legislative session, the Oklahoma legislature is set to consider several proposals that would significantly cut state revenue. Rather than cutting taxes, legislators must consider the state’s long-term fiscal health and its structural deficit by maintaining revenue streams this year and for years to come. [More...]

Strengthening the Grocery Tax Credit would provide fiscally smart tax relief to working Oklahomans

At a time when many Oklahomans are struggling to put food on the table and are at risk of eviction, a more robust Sales Tax Relief Credit can help put money back into the pockets of those who need it most. Doing so would bolster family finances, make purchasing food more cost-effective, and stimulate our local economies.  [More...]

Vape Taxes Aren’t the Answer for Medicaid Expansion

While there are arguments to pass a vape tax as a public health measure, it would likely be an insufficient and unstable way to fund a public program as crucial to our health as Medicaid. [More...]

Oklahoma’s working families need a tax cut. Here’s why

Contrary to talking points from state boosters, Oklahoma is not a low tax state for all Oklahomans. Our regressive tax system ensures that low-income Oklahomans pay more in taxes, as a share of their income, than high-income taxpayers. [More...]

Bill Watch: Quieter year expected on the tax front

Some of the fiercest battles of recent legislative sessions have centered on tax policy as lawmakers debated competing tax proposals to limit funding cuts and provide teachers a raise. This year, thanks to a strong economy and recent tax increases, the state's budget outlook is greatly improved. Yet even if the stakes are lower, lawmakers still filed hundreds of bills this session that would revise Oklahoma's tax system. [More...]