Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas Senate Bill SB277

Introduced
2/19/25  

Caption

Exempting certain qualified tips from state income tax.

Impact

Should SB277 be enacted, it would significantly impact the income tax liabilities of many workers in the service industry, particularly those in occupations where tipping is customary. This includes positions in restaurants, bars, and hospitality services. By exempting these tips, the proposed law is intended to alleviate the tax burden on these employees, recognizing the considerable proportion of their income that tips can represent. The bill reflects a growing recognition of the unique financial situations faced by service workers, who often depend on tipping for a significant portion of their earnings.

Summary

SB277, introduced in the Kansas Legislature, proposes specific modifications to the state income tax code regarding the treatment of certain qualified tips received by individuals. The bill aims to exempt these qualified tips from Kansas state income tax by establishing a subtraction modification in the calculation of Kansas adjusted gross income. This adjustment applies to qualified cash tips received during the taxable year that are reported to employers, thereby ensuring that these individuals are not taxed on income that they earn from tips.

Contention

Despite the potential benefits of SB277 to service workers, some points of contention may arise. Critics may argue that such a tax exemption could reduce state revenues, which could impact funding for public services. Additionally, there may be concerns regarding the implementation of the bill, particularly in regards to how 'qualified tips' are defined and verified. Stakeholders may also debate the fairness of the policy, questioning whether the same treatment should be extended to all forms of income or if this particular exemption undermines a more equitable tax structure.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS SB1

Modifying income tax rates for individuals, exempting all social security benefits from Kansas income tax, increasing the Kansas standard deduction and the Kansas personal exemption, increasing the income tax credit amount for household and dependent care expenses, decreasing the privilege tax normal tax, excluding internal revenue code section 1031 exchange transactions as indicators of fair market value for property tax valuation purposes, increasing the extent of property tax exemption for residential property from the statewide school levy, providing for certain transfers to the state school district finance fund and abolishing the local ad valorem tax reduction fund and the county and city revenue sharing fund.

KS SB2

Eliminating the income limit to qualify for the subtraction modification exempting social security benefits, increasing the income tax credit amount for household and dependent care expenses, establishing the veterans' valor property tax relief act providing for an income tax credit or refund for eligible individuals, citing the increased property tax homestead refund claim section as the homeowners' property tax freeze program, decreasing the normal privilege tax rate, increasing the extent of property tax exemption for residential property from the statewide school levy, decreasing the rate of ad valorem tax imposed by a school district; providing for certain transfers to the state school district finance fund, reducing the state rate of tax on sales of food and food ingredients and modifying the percent credited to the state highway fund from revenue collected.

KS HB2003

Establishing the veterans' valor property tax relief act providing for an income tax credit or refund for eligible individuals, modifying the definition of household income and increasing the appraised value threshold for eligibility of seniors and disabled veterans related to increased property tax claims and citing the section as the homeowners' property tax freeze program, providing property tax exemptions for certain personal property including watercraft, marine equipment, off-road vehicles, motorized bicycles and certain trailers, excluding internal revenue code section 1031 exchange transactions as indicators of fair market value, providing for certain exclusions from the prohibition of paying taxes under protest after a valuation notice appeal and providing four prior years' values on the annual valuation notice.

KS SB8

Exempting the sale of firearms, firearms accessories, ammunition, firearm safes and firearm safety devices from the retatilers' sales tax.

KS SB6

Providing a sales tax exemption for sales of electricity to residential premises by municipally owned or operated utilities.

KS HB2001

Authorizing the secretary of commerce to enter into agreements with major professional sports franchises to establish STAR bond projects for a major professional sports complex, providing for additional revenue sources, expanding the powers and discretion of the secretary and making other changes to the STAR bonds financing act to facilitate such projects, limiting the secretary’s authority to approve such projects to one year unless extended by the legislative coordinating council, authorizing the Kansas development finance authority to issue STAR bonds for such projects, transferring funds under certain circumstances from the state gaming revenues fund to the attracting professional sports to Kansas fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and, if approved by the legislative coordinating council, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026.

KS SB5

Authorizing counties to impose an earnings tax.

KS HB2004

Authorizing counties to propose an earnings tax for ballot question.

KS HB2002

Expanding medical assistance eligibility and enacting the cutting healthcare costs for all Kansans act.

KS SCR1604

Proposing to amend section 1 of article 11 of the constitution of the state of Kansas to limit property tax valuation increases for real property and personal property mobile homes.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.