Thursday, June 06, 2013

St. Rep. Becker Introduces Bill That Eliminates Marriage Tax Penalty

Release:
COLUMBUS—State Representative John Becker (R-Union Township) has introduced legislation that would eliminate the marriage penalty in Ohio’s income tax system.

House Bill 188, introduced on Tuesday, changes the way the joint filer tax credit is computed so that married couples pay the same amount of tax on a joint return as they would had they filed separately. In tax year 2012, a married couple working full time and earning minimum wage, paid an Ohio Marriage Penalty of $184.

"I have long been in favor of abolishing the Ohio marriage penalty, and I will continue to fight for Ohio families for as long as I am a member of the General Assembly,” Becker said. “House Bill 188 allows taxpayers to calculate the difference between filing joint and separate. That amount would then be entered as the joint filing credit. Ohio’s tax code should not discourage and punish marriage.”

HB 188 was referred to the House Ways and Means Committee.