A group appointed to help fix the way the state taxes it citizens is getting closer to the end of its work. The South Carolina Tax Realignment Commission was appointed by state government to study and make suggestions to improve a tax code that has been described as antiquated.

Charles Way, a former South Carolina Secretary of Commerce and now a major resort developer, says he has been pleased with what TRAC has done so far. “I think we have tried to be very, very open and transparent and I think that we have been,” says Way.

At the meeting, Way told commissioners that he thought they would have heard from more of the industries to be affected by tax changes. He mentioned car dealers in particular as not having weighed in during this study committee process.

TRAC Commissioner Don Weaver, a realtor, says they did not hear from the service sector, who under their proposal, would be subject to taxes for the first time. Review list of services to be taxed

Weaver says, “I was a little disappointed that they (the subcommittee) had not heard testimony and that we, the whole committee had not heard from the service industries.”  He says if service providers mobilize a lobbying effort, it will most likely focus on legislators when the issue comes up in early 2011. [Read more...]