Maryland Local Income Tax Returns - Wicomico County

FY No.of Income No. of Non- Population Average Tax

Tax Returns Tax. Returns State & Local

Filed Filed

2000 36,840 6,375 84,899 $1,984.14

2001 37,144 6,851 85,637 $1,954.27

2002 37,316 7,151 86,679 $1,950.31

2003 37,797 7,292 88,463 $2,058.52

2004 38,781 7,265 90,210 $2,316.36

2005 40,527 7,441 92,508 $2,396.71

2006 41,889 7,759 94,621 $2,445.84

2007 42,889 8,405 96,110 $2,495.16

2008 42,290 9,054 97,111 $2,287.58

2009 41,411 9,277 98,069 $2,209.82

2010 41,856 9,230 98,733 $2,240.00

2011 42,236 9,589 99,733 $2,220.45

Population data extracted from the Maryland Department of Planning .
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division, release date: December 6, 2012
Number of Maryland State Income Tax Returns Filed extracted from State Comptrollers
Source: Income Tax Summary Reports

Above is the latest state/local 2011 income tax financial information for Wicomico County that was released this morning from the State Comptroller's office.What is alarming is the shear number of non-taxable state/local income tax returns. These individuals are exempt because they are not meeting the income filing thresholds.

You will notice that over the course of the past 11 years - (FY 2000 - FY 2011) - the total number of State/Local Income tax returns have grown by 5,396.
Of that amount - the number of Non-Taxable State/Local Income tax returns have grown by 3,214. Thus our net state/local income tax paying base has only risen by only 2,182 returns - although our county's population has increased by approximately 14,834 residents.

Bottom line - our local area workforce has dwindled dramatically and not kept pace with the population growth. This has resulted in diminished federal, state, & local income tax revenues, and, a sign of a very weak local economy.Our area needs jobs and lots of them in order to help sustain our community. This is definitely not happening.

Take a look at the results another way - Maryland has a filing threshold. Essentially, if a resident falls below a certain income threshold, they are not legally required to file a Maryland return. Some individuals still do file a return, but usually for purposes of claiming a refund on withholding payments or to claim the Earned Income Credit. Over the past fiscal year - (2010 - 2011) - the total number of income tax returns being filed over this period increased by 380 returns. Of these 380 returns - (reporting income) - 359 of those did not pay any MD state/local income tax. Thus our county only gained revenue ground for 21 returns or realized a net income gain in state & local tax revenue of $23,136 over the past year - even despite a local income tax rate increase.

FY 2010 Total State & Local Tax Revenue - $93,759,616
FY 2011 Total State & Local Tax Revenue - $93,782,752
__________
$ 23,136 (Net Revenue Gain)

Marylanders are in dire need of jobs - and fast.