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</header> </div> <div class="wrapper content-wrapper"> <div id="site_content" class="content "> <div class="grid"> <div class="cell w-8 main_column"> <article> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150806011112/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/08/03/31-days-professional-fees/">Lawmakers Ditch $200 Fee for Lawyers, Doctors, Brokers</a></h1> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150806011112/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/aman-batheja/">Aman Batheja</a> and <a href="/web/20150806011112/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jeremy-lin/">Jeremy Lin</a></li><li><time datetime="Mon, 3 Aug 2015 06:00:00 -0500" title="2015-08-03 06:00"> Aug. 3, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150806011112/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/08/03/31-days-professional-fees/comments/"><span class="value">10</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <aside> <ul class="social_links"> <li class="comment"> <a href="/web/20150806011112/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/08/03/31-days-professional-fees/comments/" title=""> <i class="icon-comments-alt"></i> <span>Comment</span> </a> </li> <li class="republish"> <a href="/web/20150806011112/http://www.texastribune.org/content/republish/89416/"> <i class="icon-share"></i> <span>Republish</span> </a> </li> <li class="email"> <a href="/web/20150806011112/http://www.texastribune.org/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4c733f392e26292f3871182429697e7c1829342d3f697e7c183e252e39222976697e7c002d3b212d27293e3f697e7c0825382f24697e7c697e787e7c7c697e7c0a29Xe%20for%20Lawyers%2C%20Doctors%2C%20Brokers&body=I%20read an article%20that%20you%20might%20be%20interested%20in%20at%20The%20Texas%20Tribune:%20Lawmakers%20Ditch%20%24200%20Fee%20for%20Lawyers%2C%20Doctors%2C%20Brokers%2C%20by%20Aman Batheja and Jeremy Lin.%20http://www.texastribune.org/2015/08/03/31-days-professional-fees/%0DFourteen%20years%20after%20lawmakers%20first%20tacked%20on%20a%20%24200%20annual%20licensing%20fee%20for%20some%20occupations%2C%20the%20so-called%20professionals%20tax%20will%26nbsp%3Bbe%20repealed%20Sept.%201.%26nbsp%3BThis%20story%20is%20part%20of%20our%26nbsp%3B31%20Days%2C%2031%20Ways%26nbsp%3Bseries.%26nbsp%3B" title="" class="email"> <i class="icon-envelope"></i> <span>Email</span> </a> </li> <li class="twitter"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150806011112/http://twitter.com/share?text=Lawmakers Ditch $200 Fee for Lawyers, Doctors, Brokers&url=http://trib.it/1D9qh5I&via=TexasTribune&related=TexasTribune,TribData"> <i class="icon-twitter"></i> <span>Tweet</span> </a> </li> <li class="facebook"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150806011112/http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://www.texastribune.org/2015/08/03/31-days-professional-fees/"> <i class="icon-facebook"></i> <span>Recommend</span> </a> </li> </ul> </aside> <div class="content"> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150806011112/https://www.texastribune.org/31ways/84R"> <img id="project-logo" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150806011112im_/http://graphics.texastribune.org/graphics/31-days-31-ways-footer/assets/images/31days-logo-update2015-800x221.png" alt="31 Days 31 Ways" width="180" align="top"/> </a></p> <p style="font-style: italic;">Throughout August, The Texas Tribune will feature 31 ways Texans' lives will change because of new laws that take effect Sept. 1. Check out our <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150806011112/http://www.texastribune.org/31ways/84R/">story calendar</a> for more.</p> <p><sup>* Correction appended.</sup></p> <p>For tens of thousands of lawyers, doctors and engineers, a new Texas law is going to mean more money in their pockets.</p> <p>Fourteen years after the Legislature first tacked on a $200 annual licensing fee for some occupations, lawmakers passed a law this year repealing the so-called professionals tax. Over the years, as the state's business tax structure had changed, the fee had morphed into a form of ...</p> <p><a id="content_more" href="/web/20150806011112/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/08/03/31-days-professional-fees/" class="more" title="Read full story">Full Story</a></p> </div> </article> <div id="comment_policy"> <header class="smallcaps"> <h1>Comment Policy</h1> </header> <p> The Texas Tribune is pleased to provide the opportunity for you to share your observations about this story. We encourage lively debate on the issues of the day, but we ask that you refrain from using profanity or other offensive speech, engaging in personal attacks or name-calling, posting advertising, or wandering away from the topic at hand. To comment, you must be a registered user of the Tribune, and your user name will be displayed. Thanks for taking time to offer your thoughts. </p> <p class="anonymous_message"> <strong>You must be logged in to leave a comment.</strong> <a href="/web/20150806011112/http://www.texastribune.org/accounts/login/?next=">Login</a> <script> (function(){ var allScripts = document.getElementsByTagName('script'), currentScript = allScripts[allScripts.length - 1], node = currentScript; while (node = node.previousSibling) { if (node.nodeName == "A"){ node.href += document.location.pathname; break; } }; })(); </script> | <a href="/web/20150806011112/http://www.texastribune.org/accounts/register/">Sign-Up</a> </p> </div> <section id="comments_container" class="sidebar_block"> <header> <h1>Comments (10)</h1> </header> <ul class="comments"> <li> <div class="comment_author_image"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150806011112/http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=10152762660995877"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150806011112im_/http://graph.facebook.com/10152762660995877/picture?type=square"/> </a> </div> <div class="comment_body"> <div class="comment_time"> August 3 @ 9:08 a.m. </div> <p class="byline"> <span class="author"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150806011112/http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=10152762660995877">Michael Jensvold</a> </span> via <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150806011112/https://www.facebook.com/texastribune/posts/10153412291130837">Texas Tribune on Facebook</a> </p> <p class="comment">I just paid the fee for my P.E. license. Should have waited a month.</p> <ul class="actions clearfix"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150806011112/https://www.facebook.com/texastribune/posts/10153412291130837"><span>+</span> Reply</a></li> </ul> </div> <div style="clear: both;"></div> </li> <li> <div class="comment_author_image"> </div> <div class="comment_body"> <div class="comment_time"> August 3 @ 9:18 a.m. </div> <p class="byline"> <span class="author"> Dennis Borel </span> </p> <p class="comment">This $200 fee, unchanged since its inception, was not an undue burden nor a hardship on Texas' highest-paying occupations; doubtful that many individuals will even notice the cut. It certainly won't increase individual investment. But collectively the $250 M in GR revenue per biennium would've made a difference, like increasing the very low pay of community caregivers for our poverty-level seniors and people with disabilities. The Lege gave those workers a 14 cent raise, saying that's all they could do. As for the so-called double taxation, this article correctly notes that many professionals are small businesses and don't pay the franchise tax anyway. If the Lege really wanted to avoid the double tax and still have all contribute, s simple answer would be to make the occupations fee a credit against the franchise tax. No one would "pay twice". This repeal did have opposition and was tacked on as a last-day amendment to a Christmas tree bill.</p> </div> <div style="clear: both;"></div> </li> <li> <div class="comment_author_image"> </div> <div class="comment_body"> <div class="comment_time"> August 3 @ 10:17 a.m. </div> <p class="byline"> <span class="author"> Dutch Woods </span> </p> <p class="comment">The franchise tax should also be repealed completely. </p> </div> <div style="clear: both;"></div> </li> <li> <div class="comment_author_image"> </div> <div class="comment_body"> <div class="comment_time"> August 3 @ 11:16 a.m. </div> <p class="byline"> <span class="author"> Caroline Reynolds </span> </p> <p class="comment">It was too little, too late. They have replaced it by requiring that ALL engineers be finger-printed and have a criminal background check -- all by a single company, MORDO. It makes it sound like there is a great potential for engineers to be criminals and felons.<br/><br/>Our revenge is that as we grow older, our fingerprints fade and become harder to print, so we can turn to our former life of crime.<br/><br/>Meanwhile, the Lege is trying to grab jobs from California and other states with a nickel and dime budget. California is not losing the good design and engineering jobs, just the sales and other lower-paying jobs to Texas. The joke is on all of us.</p> </div> <div style="clear: both;"></div> </li> <li> <div class="comment_author_image"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150806011112/http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1071089196236811"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150806011112im_/http://graph.facebook.com/1071089196236811/picture?type=square"/> </a> </div> <div class="comment_body"> <div class="comment_time"> August 3 @ 11:50 a.m. </div> <p class="byline"> <span class="author"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150806011112/http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1071089196236811">Meredith Mitchell Williams</a> </span> via <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150806011112/https://www.facebook.com/texastribune/posts/10153412291130837">Texas Tribune on Facebook</a> </p> <p class="comment">Wonders what other 'fees' for the masses will take it's place.</p> <ul class="actions clearfix"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150806011112/https://www.facebook.com/texastribune/posts/10153412291130837"><span>+</span> Reply</a></li> </ul> </div> <div style="clear: both;"></div> </li> <li> <div class="comment_author_image"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150806011112/http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=10200843063756503"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150806011112im_/http://graph.facebook.com/10200843063756503/picture?type=square"/> </a> </div> <div class="comment_body"> <div class="comment_time"> August 3 @ 11:52 a.m. </div> <p class="byline"> <span class="author"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150806011112/http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=10200843063756503">Angela Moore</a> </span> via <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150806011112/https://www.facebook.com/texastribune/posts/10153412291130837">Texas Tribune on Facebook</a> </p> <p class="comment">Yahoo!</p> <ul class="actions clearfix"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150806011112/https://www.facebook.com/texastribune/posts/10153412291130837"><span>+</span> Reply</a></li> </ul> </div> <div style="clear: both;"></div> </li> <li> <div class="comment_author_image"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150806011112/http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=10206846346658880"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150806011112im_/http://graph.facebook.com/10206846346658880/picture?type=square"/> </a> </div> <div class="comment_body"> <div class="comment_time"> August 3 @ 12:01 p.m. </div> <p class="byline"> <span class="author"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150806011112/http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=10206846346658880">Melinda Carroll</a> </span> via <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150806011112/https://www.facebook.com/texastribune/posts/10153412291130837">Texas Tribune on Facebook</a> </p> <p class="comment">Now they will require us to charge and keep up with sales tax. This is not good news</p> <ul class="actions clearfix"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150806011112/https://www.facebook.com/texastribune/posts/10153412291130837"><span>+</span> Reply</a></li> </ul> </div> <div style="clear: both;"></div> </li> <li> <div class="comment_author_image"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150806011112/http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=10200887843834879"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150806011112im_/http://graph.facebook.com/10200887843834879/picture?type=square"/> </a> </div> <div class="comment_body"> <div class="comment_time"> August 3 @ 1:43 p.m. </div> <p class="byline"> <span class="author"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150806011112/http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=10200887843834879">Wendy Featherston Little</a> </span> via <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150806011112/https://www.facebook.com/texastribune/posts/10153412291130837">Texas Tribune on Facebook</a> </p> <p class="comment">Whose brain child was this? <br/>So each time one of my not quite but nearly indigent criminal clients comes in with a little $250.00 payment, in cash, I'll now need to collect $270.63 and account to the state for that $20.00? Seriously?<br/>Are we playing the same game with doctors and dentists? I'm quite sure insurance companies won't be covering individual state sales tax calculations, so we're talking the equivalent of doubling everyone's co-pay at an office visit.</p> <ul class="actions clearfix"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150806011112/https://www.facebook.com/texastribune/posts/10153412291130837"><span>+</span> Reply</a></li> </ul> </div> <div style="clear: both;"></div> </li> <li> <div class="comment_author_image"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150806011112/http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1445112605791958"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150806011112im_/http://graph.facebook.com/1445112605791958/picture?type=square"/> </a> </div> <div class="comment_body"> <div class="comment_time"> August 3 @ 7:46 p.m. </div> <p class="byline"> <span class="author"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150806011112/http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1445112605791958">Susan Lerma</a> </span> via <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150806011112/https://www.facebook.com/texastribune/posts/10153412291130837">Texas Tribune on Facebook</a> </p> <p class="comment">Poor babies, they just can't afford it. Their wages are "starving wages".</p> <ul class="actions clearfix"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150806011112/https://www.facebook.com/texastribune/posts/10153412291130837"><span>+</span> Reply</a></li> </ul> </div> <div style="clear: both;"></div> </li> <li> <div class="comment_author_image"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150806011112/http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=10202591676886744"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150806011112im_/http://graph.facebook.com/10202591676886744/picture?type=square"/> </a> </div> <div class="comment_body"> <div class="comment_time"> August 3 @ 11:12 p.m. </div> <p class="byline"> <span class="author"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150806011112/http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=10202591676886744">Herve Abrams</a> </span> via <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150806011112/https://www.facebook.com/texastribune/posts/10153412291130837">Texas Tribune on Facebook</a> </p> <p class="comment">Stupid.</p> 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