U.S. states saw their tax revenue drop by about $31 billion, or 6 percent, from March through August, compared to the same period a year earlier, as the pandemic triggered economic shutdowns across the country, according to data from 44 states compiled by the Urban Institute.
The scale of the drop appears smaller than expected, relative to the depth of the economic contraction, and comes after several states have reported that their revenue didn’t decline as much as anticipated despite business shutdowns and increased unemployment. In August, when much of the country was reopening, state revenue climbed about 1.1 percent from a year earlier, the Urban Institute found.
Ian Macartney, Senior Vice President, Head of Digital and Innovation, Argo Group US, is responsible for developing and executing Argo’s digital strategy. He has 33 years of extensive insurance industry experience, both globally and domestically, in the life and P&C markets. In many of his roles, Ian has been an effective change agent, bringing proven experience in business transformation and scaling startups into fully functional organizations. Ian’s prior roles include CEO of the highly successful Marsh insurtech subsidiary Torrent Technologies as well as having senior business and operational roles within Marsh, both in the US, and the Lloyd’s market, as well as senior leadership roles at AIG internationally and Prudential UK.
A trade group says suspending so-called beneficial owner rules would help financial institutions make more small-business loans through the Paycheck Protection Program.
Skilled nursing facilities and long-term care are deluged by the pandemic, adding financial stress for a sector that issues unrated and speculative grade debt.
The tax figures come as Republicans in Washington balk at extending aid to states and cities to help cover budget deficits that are expected to continue as the coronavirus weighs on the economy. Experts say that states’ financial outlooks could worsen as the effects of the stimulus bill fade and high unemployment reduces tax bills next year.
The August increase should be viewed with caution since income-tax deadlines were pushed back to July, which could have resulted in some revenue being processed later, according to Lucy Dadayan, senior research associate with the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center at the Urban Institute. Personal income-tax collections, which rose 3.8 percent in August, were in some cases supported by backlogged unemployment insurance benefits subject to withholding tax, Dadayan said.
Between March and August, tax revenues fell 6.4 percent year over year, with 36 states reporting declines over that period, the report said. Between March and August, eight states, including Washington and Georgia, reported growth in tax revenue.
“Due to the shifting in timing of tax receipts this past year, it is crucial to view August year-over-year revenue gains and fiscal year to date data with caution,” Dadayan said in the report.