In this issue: THE Franchise Tax Bill to Watch: HB 500 HB 5, SB 2, SB 23: Education Reform Bills Moving TTARA Opposes Three Year Appraisal Cycle; Appraisal Caps Next Up Other TTARA Testimony this Week – For and Against School Tax Limitation (Chapter 313) Bill Advances Franchise Tax Audits Awaiting Further Guidance THE Franchise…

Governor Perry Offers Franchise Tax Relief Initiative Governor Perry this afternoon will unveil a four point plan to provide franchise tax relief: Reduction in current rates by 5%–reducing the 1 percent tax rate to 0.95 percent and the half percent tax rate on wholesalers and retailers to 0.475%.This will result in a savings to taxpayers…

Chapter 313 Update: House Hearing Tuesday; Senate Bill Nearing Movement The House Ways and Means Committee Tuesday afternoon will consider three economic development bills dealing with the temporary school tax limitation program, Chapter 313, which is slated to expire at the end of 2014. HB 2647 by Murphy (support) would extend (for 10 years) and…

Monday Is “Prop 2 Day” In Ways & Means The Ways & Means Committee hearing agenda for April Fool’s Day includes three bills relating to the property tax exemption for pollution control property, popularly referred to as the Prop 2 exemption in recognition of its position on 1991’s constitutional amendment ballot. The bills to be…

Ways and Means: Franchise Tax Under Scrutiny The meetings of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee continue to focus on the franchise tax, in anticipation of some type of limited “reform” package. Chairman Hilderbran is considering different approaches—either a single omnibus franchise tax bill or a set of separate, narrower bills addressing changes in…