What does it mean to structure a tax law as an excise tax in Washington state?
<p>I read on <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/lawsuit-against-washingtons-new-capital-gains-tax-can-move-forward-judge-rules/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/lawsuit-against-washingtons-new-capital-gains-tax-can-move-forward-judge-rules/</a></p>
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<p>Democratic lawmakers have said they structured the new law [on long-term capital gains] as an excise tax&quot;.</p>
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<p>What does it mean to structure a tax law as an excise tax in Washington state?</p>

<p>In this context, structuring a capital gains tax as an excise tax means that the taxation of capital gains on a stand alone basis is divorced from the context of a larger comprehensive law taxing income in general (which Washington States's constitution prohibits).</p>

united-states tax-law washington