Mishmash of city taxes hurts economy

Ohio’s municipal-income tax system is like death by a thousand paper cuts for taxpayers. House Bill 5 will help to fix this barrier to economic development and make Ohio a better place to do business.

Ohio is the only state in the nation where almost 600 cities dictate their own tax rules, regulations and deadlines. That means many Ohioans who live and work in different cities must file and pay in both places. This process is multiplied tenfold for small businesses that are forced to file in dozens of cities where they provide goods or services. Ohio residents should not be paying more to file taxes than they owe. Forbes got it right recently when it said that Ohio has the “most complicated, absurd, and punitive system of municipal taxation in the nation.”

Roger Geiger, vice president and executive director of the National Federation of Independent Business/Ohio, agrees with me. That’s why our two associations have joined with 28 others to form the Municipal Tax Reform Coalition, representing more than 350,000 employers and professionals who support swift passage of H.B. 5. This common-sense legislation will establish uniform rules and regulations across Ohio, making it easier for taxpayers to understand where and when to file local taxes.

H.B. 5 is the right choice to help make Ohio an attractive place to live and own a business. Readers should urge their state legislators to vote yes for H.B. 5.


President and CEO

Ohio Society of CPAs