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West Virginia Working Families and Small Businesses Can\u2019t Afford a New Tax

NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO RAISE TAXES ON WEST VIRGINIANS

Working families, local businesses and their employees are struggling to get through a historic economic downturn. We need to relieve burdens on West Virginia small businesses and families so they can recover, not add more hardship.

A beverage tax will crush small businesses

West Virginia\u2019s local restaurants, grocery stores and corner stores will see a significant increase in costs that in turn means layoffs and cuts in working hours for employees.

Beverage taxes hurt working families the most

Beverage taxes place a much larger burden on hardworking West Virginians than it does wealthy families. People living paycheck to paycheck will be hit hardest by this tax.

West Virginia has a budget surplus

After the unprecedented year we\u2019ve endured, we shouldn\u2019t be nickel-and-diming people with a tax that hurts hardworking West Virginians, our local grocery stores, restaurants and small businesses.

West Virginians will cross the state border to shop

Many state residents are just a short drive from the border. This tax will lead West Virginians to cross the border to buy lower-priced beverages, and when they do, they will buy all of their groceries there.

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Under some lawmakers' plans, West Virginia's families will already have to pay more sales tax on their everyday household items - increasing the state's beverage tax just adds insult to injury to hard-working West Virginians.

A beverage tax will cost West Virginia jobs

Sales have dropped dramatically at corner stores, grocery stores and restaurants in places where a similar tax has been tried. Many people will cross the border to buy lower-priced untaxed beverages and when they do, they will buy all their groceries there. That's exactly what happened in Philadelphia, causing job losses and big cuts in working hours at grocery stores.

Twenty-eight of West Virginia's 55 counties share a border with another state.
Over 75% of West Virginia's population lives within an easy drive of a border state.

West Virginians already drive across the state border for cheaper gas because of the gas tax. Now they'll cross the border for untaxed beverages and their groceries, too.

This is not just a tax on soft drinks

\ufeffHundreds of beverages are affected by this tax, including sports drinks, iced teas, coffee drinks, juice drinks, flavored waters, sparkling waters, tonic water, and even powdered lemonades and fountain drinks. Prices will go up substantially on these everyday grocery items, whether they include sugar or no sugar at all.

Lawmakers are proposing up to a 500% tax increase on everyday beverages.

NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO RAISE TAXES ON WEST VIRGINIANS

A beverage tax will crush small businesses

West Virginia\u2019s local restaurants, grocery stores and corner stores will see a significant increase in costs that in turn means layoffs and cuts in working hours for employees.

Beverage taxes hurt working families the most

Beverage taxes place a much larger burden on hardworking West Virginians than it does wealthy families. People living paycheck to paycheck will be hit hardest by this tax.

West Virginia has a budget surplus

West Virginians will cross the state border to shop

\ufeff

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In The News

Are Excise Taxes on Beverages a Good Substitute for Income Taxes?

Tax Foundation | March 29, 2021

Excise taxes are commonly employed to deter consumption or internalize societal costs, but in West Virginia, Gov. Jim Justice (R) is proposing to increase the excise tax on soft drinks to pay for part of an income tax reform.

Mark Brennan: Council of Churches opposes nixing WV income tax

Charleston Gazette-Mail | March 27, 2021

There is a basic rule in medicine: Do no harm. That should be true in public life as well. That's why it is wrong to increase and expand the sales tax as a means to recoup income lost by abolishing the personal income tax, currently the state's major source of revenue.

W.Va. Chamber of Commerce next group to come out against Justice tax plan

The Journal | March 17, 2021

In another ding to the tax plans released by Gov. Jim Justice, the state's largest pro-business organization came out Tuesday against those plans. The West Virginia Chamber of Commerce sent a letter Tuesday to members of the West Virginia Legislature announcing its opposition to House Bill 2027 and Senate Bill 600, the governor's tax plan.

W.Va. chamber opposes Justice income tax plan

The Parkersburg News and Sentinel | March 17, 2021

In another ding to the tax plans released by Gov. Jim Justice, the state's largest pro-business organization came out Tuesday against those plans.

Business and Industry Council: Tax Plan Won't Help Business; Slow Down

West Virginia Metro News | March 11, 2021

A broad-based business group says it has real reservations about Gov. Jim Justice's big tax plan. The Business and Industry Council distributed a memo to lawmakers this morning, laying out those concerns.

Local Brewer Concerned About State Income Tax Proposal

Bluefield Daily Telegraph | March 10, 2021

A proposed hike in the tax brewers pay on their products worries a local producer of craft beer and others who fear that it could increase prices and ultimately hurt West Virginia's craft beer industry.

Concerns arise over how tax plan would affect West Virginia businesses

West Virginia Metro News | March 10, 2021

Concerns are emerging about how Gov. Jim Justice's tax plan might affect West Virginia businesses. Those worries have arisen in speeches at the state Legislature and in analysis by tax experts who monitor changes at the state level. One analyst predicted West Virginia's tax proposal could increase taxes on business up to $330 million.

West Virginia Tax Reform Carries Historic Price Tag for State Business

MultiState | March 10, 2021

Whenever West Virginia Governor Jim Justice (R) discusses his plan to eliminate his state's personal income tax, he reiterates two key points: (1) the tax will be net positive for West Virginia taxpayers and (2) it will lead to significant population growth for the state.

Businesses concerned about W.Va. income tax reform as lawmakers begin work

WSAZ News Channel 3 | March 9, 2021

Lawmakers started working Tuesday morning on West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice's proposal to eliminate the state personal income tax. The bill was introduced in both the House of Delegates and State Senate, and referred to each chamber's finance committee for review and possible amendments before a possible vote.

Craft brewers say governor's tax plan could be the end of state's craft beverage industry

WCHS Eyewitness News | March 9, 2021

Gov. Jim Justice's plan to phase out the income tax, that has now been introduced in the House as HB 2027, includes several tax hikes in other sectors. According to the bill, the craft beverage industry would face a tax increase that would make West Virginia have the highest alcohol excise tax in the nation.

Soda Taxes Proposed in West Virginia are Regressive

Cardinal Institute | February 19, 2021

Replacing the state personal income tax with higher soda taxes won't work. Eliminating the state income tax has been a popular topic of discussion lately in West Virginia.

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 24, 2021

American Beverage Association (\u201cus\u201d, \u201cwe\u201d, \u201cour\u201d, \u201cwebsite\u201d or \u201csite\u201d) operates the WV Against the Beverage Tax website (\u201cSite\u201d). This Privacy Policy outlines our practices for collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information that you provide to us when you use or visit the Site. By using our Site and/or checking the opt-in box on the registration or contributions page, you consent to our privacy policy. This Site, its features, and its contents are strictly to support interactions with US citizens. By providing your information on the Site, you certify that you are a US citizen in the United States.

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