State tax revenues up in October
File Photo
By Dave Williams
Capitol Beat News Service
ATLANTA — Georgia tax collections rose by 1.8% in October, building on a positive first quarter for the state as businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic continued to re-open.
While the monthly revenue report for September showed a decline in tax revenues, the first quarter of fiscal 2021 overall reflected a 6.3% increase over July, August and September of last year.
The state brought in $2.02 billion in taxes last month, an increase of $35.2 million over October 2019.
On the other hand, individual income taxes declined 1.2% last month, driven in part by a 6.8% drop in tax return payments.
The reduced individual income tax collections were more than offset by a 6.3% increase in gross sales tax revenues.
Corporate income taxes fell by 28.8% in October. Contributing to the decline were a 67.6% increase in corporate tax refunds issued by the Georgia Department of Revenue and a 48% decline in tax payments to the state.
With more Georgia drivers taking to the highways with the increased re-opening of offices, shops and restaurants, the state’s gasoline tax collections increased by $2.6 million over October 2019, or 1.7%.
Related Articles
How Trump’s Endangered Species Act revisions could affect Southwest Georgia
Earlier this month, the Trump administration finalized a rule rescinding the long-standing regulatory definition of “harm” under the Endangered Species Act, removing language that had interpreted the law to include significant habitat modification or degradation that actually kills or injures protected wildlife.
Mitchell County official refutes charges made by group opposing rezoning of land to be purchased by energy giant
“At no time has NextEra mentioned a data center,” James Eubanks said of negotiations with the world’s largest electric utility holding company.
Mitchell County group fights NextEra Energy project
On June 29, the Mitchell County Board of Commissioners voted to approve a rezoning request that would change 300 acres in the northern part of the county from Agriculture to Industrial.
