Bonners Ferry Local Guide including all of Boundary County Idaho

Grocery tax credit bill advances

Tuesday, February 6, 2007; CDAP

Sponsored by two-thirds of North Idaho's legislators, the bill that would give individual taxpayers extra grocery tax credits of $30 to $35 cleared the House tax committee Tuesday. On a 14-4 vote, House Bill 81 was sent to the House floor with the committee's endorsement. The measure was one of four bills presented to the House Revenue and Taxation Committee as stabilizers for last year's 1 percent sales tax increase. The three other bills were stalled, but not necessarily killed by the committee. HB 81, if it becomes law, would increase the grocery tax credit on annual income tax filings from $20 (for those under age 65) to $50, and double to $70 the current credit of $35 for people age 65 and above. Sponsors say the measure would cost the state of Idaho an estimated $47.5 million per year, increasing the statewide grocery tax credit to $73.5 million. - Full Story