Clarksburg Exponent-Telegram – Elected officials and business leaders in West Virginia often point to taxes as a detriment to attracting new businesses and jobs to our state. As a result, a myriad of tax breaks and special incentives is offered as economic development tools to attract new investment. Read
However, a recent study on business taxes conducted by The Tax Foundation, a non-partisan Washington, D.C., think tank, offered its take last month with the release of its 2014 State Business Tax Climate Index report. The results are intriguing.
The report gave West Virginia a middle-of-the-pack ranking with the 23rd-best overall business tax climate, a drop of two spots from the 21st ranking the state had the year before.
While not in the top 10, the state still beat out its neighbors in the business tax index. West Virginia’s ranking edged out Pennsylvania at 24th and beat out Virginia’s 26th, Kentucky’s 27th, Ohio’s 36th and Maryland’s 41st rankings.