Tagged: taxes

The leader on Gov. Bobby Jindal's proposed tax code rewrite, Tim Barfield, says the administration wants to keep most of the state's economic development incentive programs as part of the revamp.

Many of the programs give credits or exemptions to income taxes.

Though Jindal is proposing to eliminate state income taxes in exchange for higher sales taxes, Barfield says the governor's proposal will keep modified versions of most of the incentive programs overseen by the Department of Economic Development.

Lawmakers are responding with caution to Gov. Bobby Jindal's proposal to eliminate Louisiana's income tax in exchange for higher sales taxes and other tax code changes.

Among specific concerns raised Friday by legislators who will decide the fate of the plan are how it will impact low- to middle-income families, how it will affect local sales tax collections and whether sales taxes are too unstable a revenue source on which to base a budget.

Jindal is floating the idea of a tax swap in advance of the legislative session that begins in April.

The state Department of Revenue will begin processing 2012 state individual income tax returns on Jan. 30.

On that date, officials say 2012 state individual income tax forms will be available on the department website, www.revenue.louisiana.gov/taxforms, at department offices and at public libraries throughout the state.

Gov. Bobby Jindal is proposing to eliminate Louisiana's personal and business income taxes, in exchange for higher state sales taxes and the removal of some tax breaks.

Jindal's shopping the idea to lawmakers, who will consider it in the regular session that begins in April. In a statement Thursday, the Republican governor said eliminating income taxes will "put more money back into the pockets of Louisiana families" and make the state more attractive to companies.

It was the first peak at proposals Jindal will offer as part of his tax code rewrite.