2 States (Possibly) Raising Income Taxes in 2016

There aren't many state residents who enjoy a bump up in tax rates. In 2016, however, residents of one -- and possibly two -- states will be experiencing just such a bump. Will your bill to the state government be larger as a result? Read below to find out...

Photo: Boston Public Library, via Flickr.

Residents in Dorothy and Toto's home state are the ones who are guaranteed to see a bump in tax rates in 2016. According to a story in The Kansas City Star, while increases in cigarette and sales taxes grabbed everyone's attention, there are significant changes coming in income taxes as well. (For the record, the sales tax will increase from 6.15% to 6.5% moving forward.)

When residents begin to tabulate how much they owe in income taxes before the April 15th deadline, they'll notice some changes in how much they are allowed to deduct from their earnings. After facing significant balance deficits heading into 2016 -- largely at the hand of significant tax cuts enacted by Governor Sam Brownback -- the moves were necessary to help the state balance its budget.

Specifically:

Deductions for real-estate property taxes will be cut in half.
Most itemized deductions will be completely eliminated -- most notably the deduction for medical expenses, which could disproportionately affect the elderly.
Those who obtain guaranteed payments on a pass-through basis now have to pay state income taxes.

In addition, previous cuts in income taxes were delayed. The first $15,000 of an individual's income (or $30,000 for families) is taxable at 2.7%, and everything thereafter is taxed at 4.8%.

With a reduction in deductions and the same tax rates in place, the average Kansas household will be paying more in income taxes when they file their 2015 tax returns come April 2016.

Photo: Arthur Chapman, via Flickr.

While most of Kansas' tax changes will be felt in 2016, they are based on one's 2015 earnings record. The same cannot be said for what could happen in Alaska. After years of proudly having no personal income taxes at all, Alaska finds itself at a crossroads.

The oil money that had been enriching the state so much and making such arrangements possible has dried up. As supply -- buoyed by lower demand and increased productivity from fracking -- has surged, the industry has been contributing less and less to the state's coffers.

According to The New York Times, a staggering two-thirds of the money needed to cover the state's budget either can't or won't be collected. That's a huge problem. As a result, governor Bill Walker -- a Republican-turned-independent with a Democratic lieutenant governor -- has proposed a few important changes.

First, the cash dividends that Alaskan households receive annually as a result of money flowing in from energy companies will be cut back. Second, he will have each tax-filing unit pay 6% of whatever it owes to the federal government in income taxes. In other words, a $5,000 income tax bill to the feds would result in a $300 income tax bill to Alaska.

Walker's plan also includes raising taxes on alcohol and a general sales tax. But residents need to pay close attention to proceedings in Juneau and Anchorage, as nothing is yet set in stone.

The article 2 States (Possibly) Raising Income Taxes in 2016 originally appeared on Fool.com.

Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.