The call for an ad tax always raises the issue of how to define advertising. Newspapers, magazines, television, direct mail and outdoor usually come the minds of legislators. However, baseball caps, t-shirts, matchbook covers, blimps and sponsored sporting events are forms of advertising subject to tax. The Federal Trade Commission has never been able to define advertising and Florida failed in 1987. How will other states define advertising?

Three states…

The AIA believes taxing architectural services would significantly hurt the design industry by encouraging clients to turn to unlicensed designers for services, seriously eroding protection of the public’s health and safety. Taxing architectural services would put the architectural profession at a competitive disadvantage with unlicensed individuals and would hurt small businesses most. The AIA believes taxing architectural services would have an adverse impact on the state’s revenue, economy, and public welfare…

Wisconsin’s budget problems have been widely publicized, and the current economic environment will create additional fiscal challenges for the State.  Comments from legislators and articles indicate that additional sales taxes are certain to be considered next year. 

Although the WICPA has helped defeat prior attempts to impose a sales tax on services, Wisconsin’s poor fiscal health will make such a tax more appealing now than in the past.  It is…

The proposed state budget has a disturbing sales tax increase that will not only have a negative effect on Wisconsin people, but also most businesses.

The issue of a raising and expanding sales taxes in Wisconsin has been whispered about since the Governor’s “budget fix” speech in mid-February.

Currently the state sales tax is 5 percent. Most counties (61 of 72), including St. Croix County, also have a .5 percent sales tax. That brings…

Taxes were on the minds of many readers last week.

April 15, of course, was the income tax filing deadline. Tens of thousands of “Tea Party” protesters rallied nationwide against taxes.

That same day, the Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce fired off a news release stating that Thomas Industries’ plan to move nearly 300 factory jobs to Louisiana is more evidence that Wisconsin’s manufacturing economy is in crisis. Wisconsin has lost more than 140,000 factory…

The proposed state budget has a disturbing sales tax increase that will not only have a negative effect on Wisconsin people, but also most businesses.

The issue of a raising and expanding sales taxes in Wisconsin has been whispered about since the Governor’s “budget fix” speech in mid-February.

Currently the state sales tax is 5 percent. Most counties (61 of 72), including St. Croix County, also have a .5 percent sales tax. That brings the…

As Wisconsin tackles the economic crisis, one phrase we have heard is that nothing is off the table when it comes to resolving our $5.4 billion state budget deficit. To a certain extent, that is true: anything that is reasonable, fair and serves a valid purpose is up for discussion. Taxing legal services, however, does not meet that criteria. While no such proposal has been formally introduced, taxing legal services is the…

The Coalition Against New Taxes will use lobbyists that now work for each of the 20 groups to…

CONTACT:
Bill G. Smith – (608) 255-6083
State Director – National Federation of Independent Business
Bill Babcock – (608) 257-8477
Executive Director – Wisconsin Society of Architects

(Madison) – A large and diverse coalition of Wisconsin professional and small business groups has formed to voice their sharp opposition to any proposal that would expand the sales tax to professional or business services.

The “Coalition Against New Taxes” includes nineteen organizations concerned that the expansion of a sales tax on…