State taxes heavier on poor, study says
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, January 15, 2003
Washington states tax structure puts a heavier burden on the poor than any other state, according to a study released last week by the liberal-leaning Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.
The report found that the poorest 20 percent of state residents pay out 17.5 percent of their income in taxes annually, while the top 1 percent pay just 3.3 percent.
The numbers reflect similar findings by the Washington State Tax Structure Study Committee, which has recommended that Washington adopt its own income tax.
