If you’ve been in Nevada for any period of time you know that the state Legislature has been spending money for the last decade like there was no tomorrow. But tomorrow is here. The state’s phenomenal population growth was able to cover this spending binge…until now. Now the proverbial chickens have come home to roost.
But rather than roll back much of the government blob which was foisted upon us when legislators were rolling in the dough, big-government special interests - primarily the teachers union and the education bureaucracy - are out there demanding new and higher taxes. To hear them tell it, the problem isn’t that the government has been spending beyond its means all these years; the problem is we’re not taxing the tar out of our citizens, our businesses and our tourists.
For those who might think we don’t have enough taxes in Nevada right now, let me point out that while there might be 50 ways to leave your lover, there are over 80 ways the government sucks money out of Nevada’s economy via various taxes and fees, including the…
Business License Fee, Modified Business Tax, Modified Business Tax for Financial Institutions, Bank Branch Excise Tax, Incorporation Fees, Business Trusts, Limited Liability Company Fees, Limited Partnership Fees & LLLP Fees, Limited Liability Partnership Fees, Trademarks & Trade Names Fees, Uniform Commercial Code Fees, Video Service Provider Fees, Unemployment Insurance Tax, Drug Taxes, Controlled Substance Tax, Special Drug Manufacturing Tax, Excise Taxes, Cigarette & Other Tobacco Products Excise Tax, Intoxicating Liquor License & Tax, Fuel Taxes, State Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax and Aviation Fuel Tax.
Hold on…we’re just getting warmed up. There’s also the…
County Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax, County RTC Motor Vehicle Tax, Special Fuel Tax, Jet Fuel Tax, Gaming and Entertainment Taxes & Fees, City-County Gaming Tax, County Gaming Fees, Gross Gaming Revenue Fee, Pari-Mutual Wagering Tax, Race Wire License Fee, Slot License Fee – Non-Restricted, Slot License Fee – Restricted, Slot Machine Excise Tax, Slot Route Operator & Distributor Fees, State Gaming License – Annual Fees, State Games License – Quarterly Fees, Internet Gaming Tax, Insurance Tax, Insurance Premium Tax, Lodging Tax, State Transient Lodging Tax, Local Transient Lodging Tax, Mining Tax and Miscellaneous Mine Fees, Net Proceeds of Minerals & Patented Mines Tax.
Whew! But we’re not finished yet. There’s also the…
Oil & Gas Administrative Fee, Miscellaneous Taxes & Fees, Unarmed Combat Fees, Car Rental Government Services Tax, Livestock Tax, Live Entertainment Tax, Local Franchise Fee, Tax on Estates, Tire Tax, Nevada Transportation Authority Fees, Water Transfer Tax, Motor Vehicle Taxes, Motor Vehicle Registration Tax, Governmental Services Tax – Basic, Governmental Services Tax – Supplemental, Property Taxes, Real Property Tax (Ad Valorem), Personal Property Tax, Real Property Transfer Tax, Public Utility Taxes, Public Utility Assessment Fee, Universal Energy Charge and Sales and Use Taxes.
Take a breath. We’re almost there…
Combined Sales and Use Tax/State Sales and Use Tax (S.S.T.), Combined Sales and Use Tax/Local School Support Tax (LSST), Combined Sales and Use Tax/Basic City-County Relief Tax (BCCRT), Combined Sales and Use Tax/Supplemental City-County Relief Tax (SCCRT), and County Optional Sales Tax.
Yeah, we don’t have enough taxes in Nevada, right?
Posted on May 25th, 2008 by Chuck Muth
Filed under: Nevada
…and yet, according to conservative business groups, we have one of the best business climates in the Country. Not bad. I suppose that it is all relative.