(Washington, D.C.)  With the clock ticking before the House adjourns, Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers urges House leaders to extend a key deduction to the federal income tax. 

McMorris Rodgers joined other members of Washington State’s Congressional delegation and representatives from other states without state income taxes to ask for an extension to the state sales tax deductions.  You can read the letter they sent by clicking here.

“It’s important taxpayers in Eastern Washington know they can make big purchases from local businesses and be able to deduct that sales tax from their federal income taxes,” McMorris Rodgers said.  “Small businesses are the backbone of the Eastern Washington economy, and they will be harmed if people in Eastern Washington delay purchases because of unpredictable and unfair tax laws.” 

Taxpayers who live in states without a state income tax, like Washington, can deduct state sales tax if they itemize their tax returns.  The sales tax deduction expired at the end of last year, and it must be extended or made permanent if the deductions are to continue. 

Since coming to Congress in 2005, McMorris Rodgers has worked to extend the state sales tax deduction and has voted every year on an extension for the deduction.  In addition, McMorris Rodgers supports making the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts permanent, keeping the child tax credits and eliminating the marriage penalty as ways to foster long term economic stability and job growth.