People who reside in Maryland for at least three months out of the year would be required to start paying an apportioned share of income tax, if a pair of bills pending in the Maryland General Assembly become law.
State law currently says people who live in Maryland for more than six months are residents for tax purposes. This draft legislation cuts that time in half. It targets those who effectively split their time between Maryland and another state but, as legal residents elsewhere, avoid paying Maryland income taxes.
“This bill is basically about people who have two or more houses in different states,” said Sen. Jim Rosapepe (D-21, Prince George’s), the primary sponsor of SB 59. He was speaking to the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee during a Jan. 22 hearing.
“If you’re getting the advantage of government in Maryland, of services in Maryland, of roads, of transit, of emergency services – yeah. When you’re here, yeah, you oughta pay like everybody else who’s spending time here,” he added.
Such legislation likely would impact thousands of people with second homes on the Shore, especially in Ocean Pines and Ocean City, who spend weeks or even months domiciled in Worcester County.
In the face of an estimated $3 billion budget shortfall, the measure aims to be a revenue generator to help close the gap, according to Del. Lorig Charkoudian. She is the sponsor of a companion bill, HB 183, now under consideration in the House of Delegates.
I’m selling and leaving this screwed up state
I left over a decade ago and because I still have the same job in Maryland, I get the special “Non-Resdient” tax on my paycheck. I do all my shoping in Delaware and have stuff delieverd to my house so I don’t have to give them one more penny. Maryland Sucks!
If you can be taxed in multiple jurisdictions, you should be allowed to vote in the same multiple jurisdictions.
If you can afford two houses, you should be able to afford to pay taxes.