Cohen to Levin: Continue State and Local Sales Tax Deduction in 2011

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today issued a letter to Congressman Sander Levin (MI-12) urging him as Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee to support continuation of the state and local sales tax deduction in 2011.

A copy of Congressman Cohen’s letter follows:

The Honorable Sander Levin
1102 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

Chairman Levin,

I am writing to express my strong support for continuation of the state and local sales tax deduction in 2011. As the 111th Congress comes to a close, I know that you and your colleagues on the Ways and Means Committee are working to improve our nation’s tax policy and provide tax relief to millions of Americans. Much uncertainty remains about what we will still be able to accomplish, but I would like to encourage you to make the state and local sales tax deduction a priority.

This tax deduction is important to my constituents and those in Tennessee’s other eight congressional districts. Since Tennessee does not have a state income tax, our state and local sales taxes are inordinately high and place a significant financial burden on many of my constituents. The sales tax deduction provision will save my constituents some much needed money in these tough economic times by allowing them to deduct their state income taxes from their federal income tax returns. Since individuals in states with an income tax are able to deduct their state income tax, I believe it is only fair that Tennesseans should be granted equal footing and allowed to deduct their state and local sales taxes.

I appreciate your history of support for this provision and would like to thank you for including it in multiple tax packages during the 111th Congress. I look forward to working with you in the remaining days of this session to pass this important provision.

As always, I remain

Most Sincerely,

Steve Cohen
Member of Congress