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Statewide sales tax collections in April drop 9.3% from previous year

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Texas' state sales tax revenue for April totaled $2.58 billion, which is 9.3% lower than April 2019.

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar said in a news release that the decline was the steepest since January 2010, The Orange Leader reported.

"State sales tax collections declined as a result of efforts to stem the spread of COVID-19 through business closures, crowd limits and stay-at-home orders adopted in the state, as well as a precipitous drop in worldwide demand for oil,” Hegar said. “The steepest declines in tax remittances were from businesses most quickly and dramatically affected by social distancing: restaurants, performing arts venues, movie theaters, theme parks and fitness centers, as well as department stores and boutique retail shops."

Hegar also said in the news release that some of the losses were offset by increased sales tax collections at grocery stores, online vendors and big-box retailers.

The bulk of April's sales tax revenue was based on March sales, The Orange Leader reported.

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