Save Maryland IT Day Set for February 27 in Annapolis
(ROCKVILLE, MD) – February 26, 2008 – The Tech Council of Maryland, Maryland's largest trade association representing the state's IT and Biotech industries, is joining with members of the Fight the Tech Tax Coalition at a legislative rally to call for the repeal of the computer services sales tax on February 27, 2008.
Tech Council of Maryland CEO Julie Coons will kick off the day's events at the Maryland Inn, 16 Church Circle in Annapolis at 10:30 am. At 11:00 a.m. CEOs from businesses around the state will share their stories about the expected impact of the tax, followed by a press conference for legislators at 11:30 a.m. Attendees will spend the remainder of the day paying personal visits to lawmakers to explain the potentially devastating effect of the computer services sales tax on their jobs and on Maryland's IT industry.
"The computer services sales tax represents an about-face on the state's longstanding efforts to attract technology businesses," says Ms. Coons. "The state has spent years of effort and taxpayer dollars to successfully recruit technology jobs to the state and build incubators for high tech research – successfully – only to turn around and create a hostile tax environment. This 'penny wise,' approach does not take into account the lost revenue if businesses and high-paying jobs leave the state."
The Maryland computer services sales tax would apply the state's 6% sales tax to all Maryland businesses providing computer services, as well as out of state companies serving Maryland-based customers. More than 18 bills to reduce or repeal the tax have been introduced in the House of Delegates. Hearings on the matter have been scheduled for March 12.
"The threat is real," says Ms. Coons. "Already, Pennsylvania and Delaware are courting our members hoping to entice them to move. We have to stop this tax before we lose hundreds, if not thousands, of high-paying jobs that will never return. Its important that all businesses affected by this tax make their voices heard."
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ABOUT THE TECH COUNCIL OF MARYLAND, INC.
The Tech Council of Maryland (TCM) is the largest technology trade group serving the advanced technology and biotechnology communities of Maryland. TCM's mission is to advocate for the interests of the technology community, further the role of technology in the Maryland economy, and nurture an environment where technology companies can collaborate, grow and succeed. For more information, visit www.techcouncilmd.com.