Government : Kapucian Korner: Iowans won small tax code victory this week

This week, Iowa taxpayers won a small victory. The Iowa Senate voted unanimously in favor of a bill that would help every Iowa tax payer by coupling the Iowa tax code with the federal code. Every year, the General Assembly considers an Internal Revenue Code Update bill. This legislation decides whether the state will incorporate into Iowa income tax law federal income tax changes enacted by Congress in the prior calendar year. The Senate did the right thing this year by acting quickly and voting to couple. This provides Iowans some much-needed tax relief in the form of a deduction or credit.

Coupling Iowa tax code with federal code will put money back in family budgets. I am glad that this bill will provide a variety of deductions and credits. It is simply the right thing to do. We plan to continue to offer opportunities to provide tax relief to hard-working Iowans. This is the work of the people and it is our job at the Statehouse to reduce the tax burden and enable citizens to keep more of their hard-earned money.

Wrong Board Getting the Ax

The state has nearly 180 different boards and commissions. Many of these boards do very little and seldom meet. But, this week we discussed a very crucial state board that some Senators want to ax!

The Senate discussed ending the Iowa Property Assessment Appeals Board. (PAAB) This board serves as a fair and arbitrary body that listens to property owners that believe they have been given an unfair property tax bill or assessment.

The board is available to every taxpayer, at very little cost. Most residential and commercial property owners cannot afford to hire an attorney to represent themselves in district court. This board gives them a fair hearing at low cost. This has helped relieve the pressure of district courts getting these cases.

Since the board began in 2007, over 6,600 appeals have been made to the PAAB board. Last year the board dealt with 1600 filed cases. I am a passionate supporter of this board. We must protect our taxpayers from unfair assessments.

Bills continue to be drafted, refined, and filed so they have an opportunity to have a sub-committee by the first funnel date deadline of March 8th.

See you out and about the district.

Please feel free to contact me: tim.kapucian@legis.iowa.gov

SENATOR TIM KAPUCIAN DISTRICT 38

BENTON, IOWA, & POWESHIEK

COUNTIES