Avalara Taxrates > Blog > Sales Tax Rate Changes > Will Oklahomans increase sales tax? - Avalara

Will Oklahomans increase sales tax for education?

  • Oct 10, 2016 | Gail Cole

 On November 8, Oklahomans will decide whether or not to increase the state sales tax rate.

Updated 11.11.2016: State Question 779 was defeated.

State Question 779 is one of the hottest issues on the Oklahoma November 8 ballot. If approved, it would add a new Article to the Oklahoma Constitution, create the Oklahoma Education Improvement Fund, and increase the state sales tax rate by 1%.

Former governor David Boren, now president of the University of Oklahoma, strongly supports increasing sales tax to boost education funding. He has often spoken of the state’s education crisis and the need to increase teacher salaries, which are extremely low.

Current Governor Mary Fallin agrees that the state needs to better fund education but has consistently opposed a state sales tax rate increase. Instead, she proposes modernizing sales tax. Her plan involves broadening sales and use tax, eliminating numerous exemptions, and improving sales and use tax audits.

Oklahoma voters will decide on November 8. If they approve State Question 779, the sales tax rate increase will take effect on July 1, 2017.

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Sales tax rates, rules, and regulations change frequently. Although we hope you'll find this information helpful, this blog is for informational purposes only and does not provide legal or tax advice.
Gail Cole
Avalara Author
Gail Cole
Gail Cole
Avalara Author Gail Cole
Gail began researching and writing about sales tax in 2012 and has been fascinated with it ever since. She has a penchant for uncovering unusual tax facts, and endeavors to make complex sales tax laws more digestible for both experts and laypeople.