Budget & Taxes (Fees & Licensing)

HB 5186 adjusts Connecticut's affected business entity tax and related credits for businesses claiming federal qualified business income deductions. It adds a 1% surcharge on the business entity tax and a 10% surcharge on federal deductions claimed by filers in the highest tax bracket. The bill also modifies tax credits: reducing the credit to 83.6% for high-bracket filers while increasing it to 93.01% for lower-bracket filers. These changes directly impact businesses using federal pass-through income deductions, particularly those in Connecticut's top tax rate category.

HB 5234 would impose a fee on short-term rental properties (such as Airbnb listings) owned by individuals or businesses. The revenue generated from this fee would be distributed proportionally to local municipalities based on population or another specified formula. This bill directly affects property owners who rent accommodations for short periods, creating a new revenue stream for local governments to fund community services. The policy change is purely procedural, establishing the fee structure and distribution method without altering other regulations.

SB 104 would impose a 1.75% surcharge on net gains from selling capital assets (like stocks or real estate) for Connecticut taxpayers with adjusted gross income meeting the threshold for the state's highest and second-highest marginal tax brackets. It directly affects high-income earners whose income level triggers the top tax rates under current law. The surcharge applies only to capital gains, not ordinary income, and is calculated as a percentage of the net gain from qualifying sales. This is a specific tax rate change affecting a defined income group, not a broad policy overhaul.

HB 5185 would impose a surcharge on capital gains and dividends for Connecticut taxpayers with adjusted gross income meeting the threshold for the state's highest marginal income tax rate. It directly affects high-income earners subject to Connecticut's top tax bracket, specifically targeting net gains from selling investments and dividend income. The bill amends state tax law to add this surcharge to the existing tax calculation for qualifying taxpayers. The policy change is a direct revenue measure applying only to those already paying the highest rate on ordinary income.