Bob Morris: A GOP tax increase

I would never have expected to see an increase in my income taxes with a Republican legislature and Republican governor. I thought that is what happened with Democrats in control.

I am now retired after being laid-off. (Where are the jobs?) I could not believe that I now pay taxes on the whole amount of a moderate pension I have been getting since I was 60. The $2,000 exemption for private pensions has been eliminated. I suppose those in the 1 percent class find that pensions are irrelevant compared with their wealth.

This year I have larger than normal medical expenses due to premiums that used to be covered by my employer and of course higher expenses due to aging. One more reason for higher taxes in North Carolina. These extra medical expenses are deductible for the IRS but not for N.C. Department of Revenue.

I would like to know who got the tax reduction with the recent rule changes for North Carolina. It was not me.

This story was originally published April 25, 2015 at 4:00 PM with the headline "Bob Morris: A GOP tax increase."