While at an event on Tuesday, GOP gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels told supporters that he is open to the possibility of implementing a flat income tax if he is elected in November. During his remarks, Michels discussed how “inflation is running out of control” and that he is going to “sit down with all the smart tax people… [and] figure out how low we can get the income tax.” That was when Michels was asked if he would support the flat income tax, to which he responded that it looks like his administration could propose a flat income tax “around 5 percent.” Michels vow for “massive tax reform” also would include eliminating personal property taxes on businesses.

In a press release, the Badger Institute commended Michels for proposing that Wisconsin adopt a flat income tax of “around 5 percent,” a policy recommendation made by the Badger Institute and Tax Foundation in a report released in July. Tax Reform Options to Improve Wisconsin’s Competitiveness, authored by Tax Foundation senior policy analyst Katherine Loughead, recommends that Wisconsin move from a graduated income tax rate to a flat individual income tax.

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