• 24 Feb 2012

U.S. Sales Tax Burden Eased In 2011

Details in new ONESOURCE indirect tax report.

Caption|REUTERS/Jessica RinaldiMore states, counties and cities reduced their sales tax rates in 2011 than in 2010, according to our latest ONESOURCE Indirect Tax rate report. At the same time, fewer new sales taxes were created. Overall, the average U.S. sales tax rates for states, counties and cities that levy them declined slightly in 2011.

The 2011 report found:

  • 107 state, county and city sales taxes were lowered, compared with 68 in 2010.
  • 236 new sales taxes were levied, down from 305 in 2010.
  • The average state sales tax was 5.48 percent in 2011, down from 5.55 percent in 2010.
  • The average county sales tax was 1.15 percent in 2011, down from 1.23 percent in 2010.
  • The average city sales tax was 1.67 percent in 2011, down from 1.72 percent in 2010.

“This is good news for taxpayers, although with more than 700 sales and use tax rate changes in the U.S. and more than 2,000 value-added tax changes globally it continues to be a challenge for businesses to keep up and stay compliant,” said Carla Yrjanson, vice president of tax research and content at Thomson Reuters.

“Businesses are legally obligated to comply with the myriad of tax code changes implemented each quarter, and they need both sophisticated software applications and timely, accurate information,” added Yrjanson.

The annual ONESOURCE Indirect Tax rate report summarizes changes in sales, use and value added taxes — providing a high-level look at information incorporated in detail in the Thomson Reuters ONESOURCE Indirect Tax Solutions.

Related Information

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