January 1, 2012 -
OLYMPIA, Wash. - U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell says taxpayers who itemize in Washington could have a sales-tax deduction thanks to the "fiscal-cliff" tax bill passed in the Senate.
Cantwell says the sale-tax break has been a top priority for lawmakers, so the bill protects Washington taxpayers for their 2012 and 2013 returns. The deduction helps taxpayers who cannot deduct state income taxes because their state doesn't tax income.
Cantwell says the deal should help about 850,000 taxpayers who itemize their income tax returns about $500 on average.
The tax break has previously been valued at up to $500 million a year to Washington taxpayers.
