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Governor Hogan Thanks Members of The General Assembly For Supporting Common Sense Legislation
“Protecting taxpayers is a bipartisan issue. We are calling on legislative leaders to sit down with us and to work together in the weeks ahead in a bipartisan manner in order to do the right thing for the hard working taxpayers of Maryland. Rather than debating it in the media, or trying to play politics for the next few months, I hope we just come together and find a common sense bipartisan solution that protects our taxpayers.” – Governor Larry Hogan, January 25, 2018
Governor Hogan Pledged To Protect Maryland Taxpayers From Potential Adverse Effects From The Federal Tax Plan
In December 2017, Governor Hogan Announced That He Will Seek To Protect Maryland Taxpayers From Higher State Taxes That May Be Caused By The Federal Tax Overhaul. “Gov. Larry Hogan said Wednesday that he will seek to protect Maryland taxpayers from higher state tax bills caused by the federal tax overhaul President Donald J. Trump is expected to sign soon. The Republican governor said he will submit legislation to the General Assembly next month to do that and called for unanimous legislative support of his proposals.” (Michael Dresser and Erin Cox, “Gov. Larry Hogan Says He Will Submit Legislation To Protect Maryland Taxpayers From Federal Overhaul,” The Baltimore Sun, 12/20/17)
• Governor Hogan: “Our goal will be to leave that money in the pockets of hard-working Marylanders… I am confident that our partners in the General Assembly who have expressed concern over the impact of this tax reform bill will support us unanimously in protecting Marylanders who could be negatively affected. Protecting taxpayers should be a bipartisan issue.” (Michael Dresser and Erin Cox, “Gov. Larry Hogan Says He Will Submit Legislation To Protect Maryland Taxpayers From Federal Overhaul,” The Baltimore Sun, 12/20/17)
Protecting Maryland Taxpayers Act Of 2018
Governor Hogan’s Proposed Protecting Maryland Taxpayers Act Of 2018 Will Make Permanent A Provision In Maryland Law Preventing Changes In The Federal Tax Code From Impacting Maryland State And Local Taxes, And Will Enable Marylanders To Take The Standard Deduction At The Federal Level If They Choose To Do So.”First, the governor announced the Protecting Maryland Taxpayers Act of 2018, which makes permanent a provision in Maryland law that prevents changes in the federal tax code from affecting Maryland state and local taxes. The legislation will enable Marylanders who choose to take the standard tax deduction at the federal level to itemize deductions at the state level, whereas currently taxpayers opting to take the federal standard deduction also have to do so at the state level. This provision will make it possible for Marylanders to get “the best of both worlds” by taking advantage of the higher federal standard deduction while still utilizing longstanding deductions at the state level.” (Press Release, “Governor Larry Hogan Announces Actions To Protect Marylanders From Federal Policy Changes,” Office Of The Governor, 1/25/18)
Legislation Was Introduced By Members Of The General Assembly Allowing Taxpayers To Deduct A Personal Exemption. The Proposed Legislation Allows Marylanders To Claim Their State Return Exemptions And Itemized Deductions.”Subject to the provisions of this section, an individual may deduct an exemption for: the taxpayer; the spouse of the taxpayer if: a joint return is not made by the taxpayer and the spouse; and the spouse, for the calendar year in which the taxable year of the taxpayer begins, has no gross income and is not a dependent of another taxpayer; and each individual who is a dependent, as defined in § 152 of the Internal Revenue Code, of the taxpayer for the taxable year.” (“Senate Bill 184,” Maryland General Assembly, 1/17/18)
• Members of The State Senate Voted 45-0 In Favor Of This Legislation. (“Senate Bill 184,” Maryland General Assembly, 2/7/18)
The Crossfile Of This Bill, House Bill 365 Is Scheduled For A Hearing In The House Ways And Means Committee For February 7, 2018. (“House Bill 365,” Maryland General Assembly, 1/25/18)
