Public Radio for Alaska's Bristol Bay
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Edgmon, Seaton propose state income tax

Edgmon tells KDLG News Friday the two hope to have at least one hearing on HB 182 in order to get a conversation started.

APRN: With just two weeks left in the session, Paul Seaton, a Homer Republican, and Bryce Edgmon, a Democrat from Dillingham, filed legislation to reinstate an income tax.

Filed Friday, House Bill 182 would tax Alaskans at 15 percent of their federal tax rate. At the very highest bracket, for those making over $400,000, the state income tax would amount to a six percent levy before deductions.

Alaska abolished an income tax in 1980 because on account of steep increase in oil revenues. Discussion of taxes have largely been avoided since, because they are politically unpopular.

While the state currently faces a multi-billion-dollar budget deficit, the governor and the Legislature’s Republican leadership have said they do not plan to consider taxes this session.

Both Seaton and Edgmon are multi-term incumbents, who ran uncontested in the previous election.

The last time an income tax bill was introduced was 2005. It got one hearing before being shelved.

This article was contributed by APRN's Juneau correspondent Alexandra Gutierrez.