On Tax Day, Gottheimer touts efforts to lower taxes

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U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-5th District, held a press conference Monday at H&R Block in Emerson to announce actions toward lowering taxes for families and small businesses here in New Jersey.

Local officials, residents and stakeholders joined Gottheimer.

“Families across the state and country are rooting for a refund this Tax Day. But, for far too many Jersey families and small businesses, hefty property taxes and income tax bills are a major source of stress,” said Gottheimer. “And with good reason. Their taxes are too high. According to the Tax Foundation, New Jersey has an effective state and local tax rate of more than 13% — the sixth highest in the nation. Here in Bergen County, the median annual property tax is $15,000.”

“Today, I’m excited to share more action I’m taking on every line of the tax bill – local, state and federal – to help lower taxes for our families and small businesses, including fighting for new tax credits to lower the cost of child care and housing, and to pass tax cuts for Jersey small businesses,” Gottheimer added. “We need to make life more affordable for Jersey small businesses. We need to make life more affordable for Jersey families.”

Gottheimer highlighted actions, such as:

• A bipartisan letter he sent along with Nebraska U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-2nd District. The correspondence urges Senate leadership to take up the bipartisan tax cut package passed earlier this year by the House of Representatives. The Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act would expand the Child Tax Credit, strengthen the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, and more;
• Noted several bills he helped pass out of the House to fully restore the SALT deduction;
• Efforts to claw back more than $63 million in federal funds on behalf of area residents and businesses, such as the Ridgewood YMCA. That organization received more than $1.4 million back from the IRS.

“There’s an old adage from Ben Franklin that says the only things guaranteed in life are death and taxes. Taxes may be inevitable, but we can still work every day to get our taxes down, and ensure you never pay a nickel more than you’re supposed to,” said Gottheimer. “I won’t stop working across the aisle in Congress to do everything I can to make life more affordable for our families, small businesses, and communities. If we work together, here in the greatest country in the world, our best days will always be ahead of us.”