Is the new $12,000 low-income exemption for the tax mandatory?
Each political subdivision that levies an LST at a rate of $10 or less is permitted to exempt those taxpayers whose total earned income and net profits from all sources within the political subdivision is less than $12,000. Each political subdivision that levies an LST at a rate exceeding $10 is required to exempt persons whose total earned income and net profits from all sources within the political subdivision is less that $12,000 for the calendar year in which the LST is levied. The school district for the municipality in which a worksite is located may or may not levy an LST. If it does, the income exemption provided may differ from the municipality and can be anywhere from $0 to $11,999. “Income from all sources” is defined as the same “earned income” and “net profits” that are used to determine the local earned income tax.
