Litigation

The Wall Street Journal reports that "at least 10 states are considering some kind of major increase in sales or income taxes, including Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin. California and New York lawmakers already have agreed on multibillion-dollar tax increases that went into effect earlier this year.

Fiscal experts say more states are likely to try to raise tax revenue in coming months, especially once they tally the latest shortfalls from April 15 income-tax filings, often the biggest single source of funds for the 43 states that levy them."

Higher tax rates make structured settlements more attractive. Even structured settlements set up in recent years with lower interest rates become more attractive simply by the fact that the taxable equivalent yield has gone up.  Follow this link to a Taxable Equivalent Yield Chart

Link to April 9, 2009 Wall Street Journal Report on Tax Increases here