Burgum pushes to eliminate income taxes for lower earners

BISMARCK,N.D. (AP) — Gov. Doug Burgum has proposed eliminating state income taxes for lower-earning North Dakotans while shrinking them for higher earners to a small flat tax, which he says would save taxpayers about $250 million annually. Flanked by Republican lawmakers and other state officials at the state Capitol, Burgum touted the proposal Wednesday (Aug. 24, 2022) as an economy-driver and an inflation relief package that will be considered by the Legislature when it reconvenes in January. Under the plan, income tax would be eliminated for people with an adjusted gross income of $54,725 or less. Burgum says that’s about 388,000 people, or about 60% of the state’s taxpayers. Those with higher incomes would pay a flat 1.5% tax.