On Excise Taxes: Inordinately Burdening the Poor!

Excise taxes are inherently regressive, meaning lower-income households spend a larger share of their income on them than wealthier households. Because low-income families consume a greater percentage of their earnings on everyday and taxed goods (such as tobacco, fuel, utilities and tolls on roads), the financial burden hits them disproportionately.

Cf. taxfoundation.org

Here are two excise taxes on necessary items, a tax which inordinately affects the poor. These taxes are a much greater proportion of a poor man's money than that of a middle-class or rich man. The rich man is not affected in the least, and the middle-class man only minimally. For the poor man, it is a significant percentage of his meagre wealth.

Another consideration is the use of wine at Mass. To tax wine is to inordinately tax Catholic churches which use wine in divine worship. It is a tax which punishes Catholic worship, taxing a product bought by the donations of the faithful.

I'm just sayin!

N.B. Plinthos said it, and it needs to be noted! For starters, these hidden taxes should be clearly spelled out for the consumer at the moment of purchase! That disclosure should be required! Every man has a right to know who is taking his money, how and when!

Below is the breakdown State by State for liquor (beer and wine are different but similar rates, reflecting relative alcohol content) and gas.

Liquor Excise Tax per liter (40% alcohol)

Federal Excise tax is typically $2.85. Add that to the State figures below.

State
1	New Hampshire	$0.00
1	Wyoming	$0.00
3	Missouri	$0.53
4	Colorado	$0.60
5	Texas	$0.63
6	Kansas	$0.66
7	Indiana	$0.71
8	Arizona	$0.79
9	Louisiana	$0.80
10	Wisconsin	$0.86
11	California	$0.87
12	Nevada	$0.95
13	Nebraska	$0.99
14	Georgia	$1.00
15	Massachusetts	$1.07
16	Tennessee	$1.18
17	Delaware	$1.19
18	North Dakota	$1.30
18	South Dakota	$1.30
20	Rhode Island	$1.43
20	South Carolina	$1.43
22	Maryland	$1.44
23	New Jersey	$1.45
24	Oklahoma	$1.47
25	Connecticut	$1.57
26	Hawaii	$1.58
27	New Mexico	$1.60
28	New York	$1.70
29	Florida	$1.72
30	Pennsylvania	$1.98
31	Illinois	$2.26
32	Minnesota	$2.31
33	West Virginia	$2.37
34	Vermont	$2.39
35	Mississippi	$2.48
36	Kentucky	$2.53
37	Arkansas	$2.58
38	Montana	$2.79
39	Maine	$3.15
40	Ohio	$3.26
41	Alaska	$3.38
42	Idaho	$3.42
43	Michigan	$3.86
44	Iowa	$4.00
45	Utah	$4.25
46	North Carolina	$4.82
47	Alabama	$6.04
48	Virginia	$6.20
49	Oregon	$6.27
50	Washington	$9.69

So, in New Jersey, 1 Liter of whiskey will be 2.85 + 1.45 = $3.35 (excise tax). This tax is included in the retail price of the bottle. Sales tax is extra, and is charged on this tax too. That is tax upon tax!

Gas Excise Taxes per Gallon

Federal Tax: 18.40¢. Add that to the State figures below.

	State Tax
1	Alaska	8.95¢
2	Hawaii	18.50¢
3	New Mexico	18.88¢
4	Arizona	19.00¢
5	Oklahoma	20.00¢
6	Texas	20.00¢
7	Louisiana	20.93¢
8	Delaware	23.00¢
9	North Dakota	23.03¢
10	New Hampshire	23.75¢
11	Wyoming	24.00¢
12	New York	24.18¢
13	Mississippi	24.40¢
14	Nevada	24.81¢
15	Arkansas	25.00¢
16	Connecticut	25.00¢
17	Kansas	25.03¢
18	Kentucky	26.40¢
19	Tennessee	27.40¢
20	Massachusetts	27.56¢
21	South Carolina	28.75¢
22	Missouri	29.99¢
23	Iowa	30.00¢
24	South Dakota	30.00¢
25	Colorado	30.18¢
26	Alabama	31.00¢
27	Maine	31.45¢
28	Utah	32.55¢
29	Minnesota	32.70¢
30	Nebraska	32.70¢
31	Wisconsin	32.90¢
32	Idaho	33.00¢
33	Montana	33.75¢
34	Georgia	34.05¢
35	Vermont	34.88¢
36	West Virginia	35.70¢
37	Ohio	38.50¢
38	Oregon	40.00¢
39	Florida	40.10¢
40	Rhode Island	41.12¢
41	North Carolina	41.25¢
42	Virginia	42.40¢
43	Maryland	46.81¢
44	New Jersey	49.15¢
45	Michigan	53.40¢
46	Pennsylvania	58.70¢
47	Washington	60.17¢
48	Indiana	63.10¢
49	Illinois	70.40¢
50	California	73.64¢

So, in New Jersey, the total tax per gallon of gas in 18.4 + 49.15 = 67.19¢ (excise tax). Again, the poorer the man the more inordinate this essential tax burden!