ATLANTA, GA — Today, Patrice Onwuka, director of Independent Women’s Center for Economic Opportunity, testified before the Georgia Senate Special Committee on Eliminating Georgia’s Income Tax, advancing Independent Women’s ongoing efforts to end income tax and deliver relief for working families.
Independent Women’s Network, the grassroots membership arm of Independent Women, has nearly 500 engaged members across the state and has been advocating for an end to income tax in Georgia to free up more income for hardworking moms, small business owners, and freelancers so they can keep more of what they earn and invest in their futures.
Launched by Lt. Governor Burt Jones in July of this year, the Senate Special Committee on Eliminating Georgia’s Income Tax seeks to build on Georgia’s economic record by phasing out the state income tax, and remain competitive with other states in the Southeast.
“Georgia is taking an important step to accelerate financial relief for hardworking families,” said Patrice Onwuka, director of Independent Women’s Center for Economic Opportunity. “Fast-tracking the elimination of the state’s income tax comes not a moment too soon. Women will benefit greatly from the increased take-home pay. They’ll gain an expanded financial cushion against rising costs and see the tax penalties cancelled for those whose earnings rise. Female entrepreneurs have less access to startup capital than men and rely on their own incomes and savings. Eliminating taxes will expand the funds available for them to start and grow their businesses. Independent Women supports Georgia’s effort, which we believe will help women and families manage lingering high prices and build long-term economic security and prosperity.”
Georgia has been moving to cut the income tax by 1% every year, but this has failed to deliver necessary relief to hardworking Georgians. These current measures have set Georgia on track to have the highest income tax in the Southeast by next year. Now, Georgia’s Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones wants to be more aggressive in the move to eliminate income tax completely.
“Eliminating the Georgia state income tax would provide much-needed relief to the working women and families across Georgia,” said Lt. Governor Burt Jones. “Thank you to Independent Women’s Voice and Patrice Onwuka for their support as the state legislature works to let Georgians keep more of the money they work hard to earn.”
“Georgia joined the ranks of 24 flat-income tax states last year, but its top rate of 5.09% remains uncompetitive,” said Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform. “Now, legislators have a golden opportunity to put Georgia on the path to zero, catching up to neighbors like Florida, Tennessee, and Mississippi—and attract even more families and small businesses looking to keep more of their hard-earned dollars.”
In her testimony, Onwuka stated, in part:
“Women are powerful economic agents as consumers, producers, and investors. Women comprise 47% of the Georgia workforce and are breadwinners in 40% of Georgia homes. As women’s earnings increase, so do their tax burdens. Thus, they are sensitive to the impacts of tax policies.”
Onwuka addressed how eliminating the income tax would uniquely benefit women in Georgia by:
- Providing a cushion against rising prices;
- Removing the penalty against hard work and success;
- Increasing access to capital for startups; and
- Building financial security for the future.
Onwuka concluded her testimony by calling upon the Georgia Senate to eliminate income tax to enable Georgia women, families, and businesses to thrive and secure bright financial futures.
Onwuka’s full testimony can be found HERE.
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