No Sales Tax! Hank Green Explains Montana’s Tax Problem

Not only is Hank Green a YouTube sensation with millions of followers, but he’s also a Missoula guy. And recently, he took to his TikTok to rant about the tax structure in Montana. His beef? He doesn't think this state should rely on a sales tax.

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Two Brackets, That’s It

Montana has only two tax brackets: one for income up to $21,000 and another for everyone else. That’s it. Whether you’re pulling in $22,000 or $2.2 million, you’re lumped in the same “high” bracket.

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The way Hank puts it: “We need to tax rich people like me more. If we want to live in Montana, we should just take that weight off the backs of Montanans who can’t afford it.”

Why Not a Sales Tax?

In a TikTok rant, Hank says that Montana's history was built on the extraction of timber, coal, silver, and copper. But now, those industries’ products are declining in global demand, and the state’s industry is shrinking. Nowadays, it’s more service-based, fueled by tourism and rich newcomers. A sales tax, he’s said, would also only make life more difficult for the working class. Hanks says in his TikTok post, “Sales tax is a ridiculous regressive tax. It’s paid more by poor people on a per-unit basis than rich people.”

Hank’s Fix

The solution, Hank believes, is basic: Add a third tax bracket. He proposes a rate of 10% for anybody who earns more than $500,000 a year. There are not a lot of Montanans in that group, but he says it would generate real revenue without adding to the burden of those already stretched thin.

@hankgreen1Does this count as an adult conversation?♬ original sound - Hank Green

My Take

I must confess something: I recently traveled out of Montana on a road trip to Nevada. I learned you do not know how much sales tax sucks until you leave Montana and purchase something in another state.  The bill is higher than the sticker, and I’m ticked off. Montanans have enough to stress about already: housing, groceries, gas. Just the thought of a sales tax makes me cringe.