The Internal Revenue Service recently released its latest taxpayer migration figures from tax years 2018 and 2019. They reflect migratory taxpayers who had filed in a different state or county between 2017 and 2018, of which 8 million did in that timespan.
California, the nation’s most-populous state, lost more tax filers and dependents on net than any other state.
Minus incoming filers, California shed a net 165,355 tax filers and dependents between the two tax years, representing a loss of $8.8 billion in net adjusted gross income.
Texas was the primary destination for California ex-pats, with 72,306 total exemptions leaving to go there. Neighboring Arizona saw 53,476 total filing exemptions come from California. The two states saw a gross income boost of $3.4 billion and $2.2 billion, respectively.
Despite the annual losses, the Golden State still is the nation’s most populous and benefits from a diversified economy that attracts high earners who are more likely to afford what has become some of the nation’s most-expensive cities in which to live.
Brandon Ristoff, a policy analyst with the California Policy Center, reacted to the figures Thursday, saying the IRS’ new numbers reflect the exodus of residents they have seen on the ground.
“Billions of dollars of this state’s wealth has been sent away year after year from our great state, because of California’s bad policies on the economy, education and more,” he said. “California used to be a place where everyone wanted to live, but now California has become a place where people want to leave.”
Local officials of states that see perennial population losses and slow growth point to retirees moving to better climates. Annual IRS figures find taxpayers under age 35 accounted for less than one-third of all returns (28.4%) but more than half of all migrant returns (52.9%).
While not all residents are taxpayers, U.S. Census Bureau figures track with IRS estimates.
From July 2019 to July 2020, the Census Bureau estimated 135,000 more people left the state than moved in. California’s tepid growth will lead to it losing a member of the U.S. House of Representatives after reapportionment occurs later this year. That’s a first for the state.
Cole Lauterbach is a regional editor for The Center Square covering Arizona, California, Oregon, and Washington. For more than a decade, Cole has produced award-winning content on both radio and television.
While I understand and agree with many who leave, it takes significant fortitude in conservative Californians to stay and fight the lying and cheating lunatics for the Golden State. I will be on the last train out – going down swinging.
We at CJ will stand beside you and sit next to you on the last train out.
Turn the lights out on your way out……OH, I forgot, Newsoms all electric demand will do that for you before you leave.
So why are rents and property prices still so high?
Hard to say it’s supply and demand when people are leaving. Some of the cost is with the cost of State government restrictions.
California is Leaving.
No children; no middle class; no future.
https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/2021/05/california-leaving-daniel-greenfield/
Productive members of California society are voting…. with their feet!
…An analysis by economists at UCLA found that California’s strict public health measures during the pandemic actually protected its economy. California had less of a contraction last year than Texas, Florida, and Indiana, states with fewer restrictions. As the nation emerges from its downturn, the economists predicted California would recover faster than the nation. L.A. Times
That’s very interesting. Other writers have round that other states with less restrictive measures fared much better in the field of job loss. It couldn’t possibly be that economist at the University of CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES cherry-picked the numbers could it?
What was it Mark Twain is reputed to have said, “There liars, damned liars and statistics”?
With that kind of logic, masks saved california?
No, Newsom’s brilliant and visionary leadership did….
/{sarc}
YEAH, an 8.8 Billion dollar loss in taxes is truly “brilliant.”