Sales tax collections increase in White and Van Buren counties

White and Van Buren counties have seen a marked improvement in state and local sales tax collections for April 2021 compared to the same time last year when the COVID-19 pandemic has just begun to wreak havoc on the state’s economy.

State sales tax collections for April 2021, in White County, totaled, $1,924.272, with April 2020 listed at $1,351,341. Ten years prior, in 2011, state sales tax collections were $1,136,878

White County’s local sales tax collections for April 2021 were $709,439, while April 2020 showed $4,574,309. In April 2011, local sales tax collections were $303,510.

Van Buren County garnered $153,178 in state sales tax collections for April 2021, with local sales tax collections at $87,877. In April 2020, state sales tax collections were $99,262, with local sales tax collections at $55,439. In April 2011, state collections were $97,025, while local collections came in at $38,546.

According to the Tennessee Department of Finance, revenues statewide for April exceeded the monthly revenues from the same month last year, which was at the beginning of the pandemic’s impact in Tennessee. Overall state revenues for April were $2.5 billion, which is $1.3 billion more than April 2020, and $596.7 million more than the budgeted estimates. The growth rate for all taxes in April was 90.90 percent.

General fund revenues exceeded budgeted estimates by $599.9 million, while the four other funds that share in state tax revenues were $3.2 million less than the estimates.

Sales tax revenues were $284.9 million more than the estimate for April, 40.20 percent more than April 2020, and 31.78 percent more than April 2019. April sales tax revenues reflect retail business activity that occurred in March. For nine months, revenues are $1.2 billion higher than estimated. The year-to-date growth rate for nine months is 10.60 percent. Remote sales and marketplace facilitator laws contributed $54.9 million to sales tax receipts in the month of April. For nine months, online sales tax revenues represent 46.5 percent of all sales tax growth to the state.

Franchise and excise tax revenues combined were $346 million higher than the budgeted estimate in April, and the growth rate compared to April 2020 was positive 319.30 percent. For nine months, revenues are $765 million more than the estimate and the year-to-date growth rate is 47.22 percent.

Gasoline and motor fuel revenues for April decreased by 0.75 percent compared to April 2020 and they were $2.4 million less than the budgeted estimate of $104.7 million. For nine months revenues are less than estimated by $18.8 million.

Motor vehicle registration revenues were $4.7 million more than the April estimate, and on a year-to-date basis they are $13.6 million more than estimates.

Tobacco tax revenues were $1.5 million more than the April budgeted estimate of $17.5 million. For nine months, they are $9.5 million less than the budgeted estimate.

Hall income tax revenues for April were $58.5 million less than the budgeted estimate.

Privilege tax revenues were $14.2 million more than the April estimate, and on a year-to-date basis, August through April, revenues are $72.4 million more than the estimate.

Business tax revenues were $7.9 million more than the April estimate. For nine months, revenues are $35 million more than the budgeted estimate.

Mixed drink, or liquor-by-the-drink, taxes were $1.2 million less than the April estimate, and on a year-to-date basis, revenues are $24.7 million less than the budgeted estimate.

All other taxes were less than budgeted estimates by a net of $0.4 million.

Year-to-date revenues, August through April, are $2 billion more than the budgeted estimate. The growth rate for eight months is 14.72 percent. General fund revenues are $1.9 billion more than the budgeted estimate and the four other funds are $66.2 million more than estimated.