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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowGov. Eric Holcomb said Wednesday he is calling lawmakers back to the Indiana Statehouse on July 6 to consider his plan to send $1 billion in refunds to Indiana taxpayers.
If lawmakers agree to the governor’s plan, individual taxpayers would receive a tax refund of $225—on top of the $125 each is receiving through the state’s automatic taxpayer refund program.
“This is the fastest, fairest and most efficient way to return taxpayers’ hard-earned money during a time of economic strain,” Holcomb said in a statement. “Indiana’s economy is growing and with more than $1 billion of revenue over current projections, Hoosier taxpayers deserve to have their money responsibly returned. I’m happy to be able to take this first step and look forward to signing this plan into law as soon as possible.”
Only the governor can call the Legislature into special session—something the Indiana Supreme Court affirmed earlier this year. But once lawmakers are at the Statehouse, their work is not limited by time or scope.
That means they could consider other ways to try to help Hoosiers cope with rising prices. Democrats, for example, have advocated suspending the state’s gas tax or the sales tax on gasoline.
Or they could consider issues not tied to the Holcomb’s original request at all. For example, the Republican-led House and Senate could act on abortion legislation in reaction to a U.S. Supreme Court decision expected any day.
Many Republicans called on Holcomb earlier this year to call a special session if the Supreme Court issued a ruling that strikes down Roe v. Wade or otherwise opens the door for states to ban abortion.
Although lawmakers are compelled to convene on July 6, they could also immediately adjourn without acting on Holcomb’s proposal, although that’s unlikely.
Holcomb first announced his taxpayer refund plan on June 9, on the the heels of a state revenue report for May that showed tax receipts were $209 million higher than the state’s forecast. For the first 11 months of the Indiana fiscal year, which ends June 30, tax revenue was $1.075 billion over forecast.
The state’s existing $125 automatic refund was triggered last summer after the state ended the last fiscal year with nearly $4 billion in reserves, which was $1.2 billion more than expected.
Refunds were to begin in May through direct deposits for residents who provided their banking information on their return when they filed their 2021 income taxes. Direct deposits are expected to continue through July.
For those who did not include banking information on their returns, paper checks will be issued beginning in late July and continue through August, with the goal of completing the refund statewide by Sept. 1.
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Wow, another pittance in return for hopeful votes. Look to the long term, not just today. Maybe lower gas taxes, or income tax rates that will benfit the hard working citizens. We expect the legislature to represent all of the citizens, not just look for votes to perpetuate this shallow thinking.
Do you mean Brandon, with his 3 month gas tax cut? He has a 32% approval rating.
I understand the simple math of dividing the surplus by the number of taxpayers to yield the return but that is not how the tax was originally collected. If I paid $10,000 in taxes and you paid $1,000 you would get a refund equal to 22.5% while my refund would amount to 2.25% of the tax I paid. Simple but is it fair
Just accelerate the phased in reduction of the income tax rate deduction already planned. This will benefit, longer term and in each pay check a benefit to Hoosiers and doesn’t stop collecting gas taxes on out of state drivers.
Stop ‘touting’ a refund and commence with the reduction or elimination of taxes collected if you want to make a direct and immediate impact to Hoosiers. Don’t waste money sending a pittance of a check to all Hoosiers in a disproportionate amount. Too much is wasted when you tie things up sending out checks.
I’ll be spending my refund in Michigan once again. Thank you Governor Holcomb, very cool!
@Colton Hahaha
Return the READI program’s $500 million from ARPA funds back to the fed and fund READI projects with Indiana tax revenue that can be made available to the regional program without all of the federal red tape.
Thanks for returning $1B of the ~$6B in reserves. Ooooohhhh, that makes me so happy. Oh that’s right, you politicians “still” think it is YOUR money! Protect our children in our schools and then change the State tax system so that we are not always filling your coffers.