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Below is a continuously updated list of good news arising from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enacted by Republicans in 2017.

ACCORDING TO THE LATEST IRS DATA:

24% tax cut for Missouri households making between $25k – $50k. Missouri households with adjusted gross income between $25,000 and $50,000 saw their average federal income tax liability drop from $2,286.76 in 2017 to $1,844.38 in 2019, a 24% reduction in federal income tax liability.

22% tax cut for Missouri households making between $50k – $75k. Missouri households with adjusted gross income between $50,000 and $75,000 saw their average federal income tax liability drop from $5,366.56 in 2017 to $4,408.05 in 2019, a 22% reduction in federal income tax liability. 

20% tax cut for Missouri households making between $75k – $100k. Missouri households with adjusted gross income between $75,000 and $100,000 saw their average federal income tax liability drop from $8,614.20 in 2017 to $7,168.21 in 2019, a 20% reduction in federal income tax liability. 

A 1.1% tax HIKE for Missourians making over $1 million. Democrats claim the tax cuts were for “the rich” but as shown by the data, Missouri households earning over $1 million actually saw their federal income tax liability increase from $839,410.20 in 2017 to $848,847.40 in 2019, an increase of 1.1%.

Data from the Congressional Budget Office also shows that high-earning Americans pay a greater share of taxes than before enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. In other words, the TCJA made the tax code more progressive, though you won’t hear Democrats admit it. 

The TCJA also contained numerous reforms that benefited Missouri households: 

Missouri households are no longer stuck paying the Obamacare mandate tax. The TCJA zeroed out the Obamacare individual mandate tax penalty effective 2019. In 2017, 81,240 Missouri households paid the Obamacare individual mandate tax penalty. 74,280 (91.43%) of taxpayers earned less than $75,000. 64,670 households paid the Obamacare individual mandate tax penalty in 2018. 57,540 (88.97%) of taxpayers earned less than $75,000.

Doubled Standard Deduction. The TCJA doubled the standard deduction from $12,000 to $24,000 for taxpayers filing jointly and $6,000 to $12,000 for single filers. 2,553,250 MO households took the standard deduction in 2018 including 2,298,220 households earning less than $200,000. 2,617,860 taxpayers took the standard deduction in 2019 including 2,557,300 taxpayers earning less than $200,000.

20% tax deduction for MO small businesses. The TCJA created a new, 20% deduction for small businesses organized as passthrough entities (LLCs, sole proprietors, S-corporations, partnerships). 388,800 MO taxpayers claimed the small business deduction in 2019 including 329,260 taxpayers earning less than $200,000. 327,920 taxpayers claimed the small business deduction in 2018 including 279,440 taxpayers earning less than $200,000. 

Doubled Child Tax Credit. The TCJA doubled the child tax credit from $1,000 to $2,000. 699,550 MO households took the child tax credit in 2019 including 656,630 households earning less than $200,000. 691,880 households took the child tax credit in 2018 including 651,600 households earning less than $200,000.

Utility Savings: If not for the TCJA, utility bills would be even higher. As a direct result (see citations in the list at bottom) of the TCJA’s corporate tax rate cut, Missouri residents are saving money on utility bills. Lower electric, water, and gas bills help households and small businesses operating on tight margins. For example, at least six Missouri utilities reduced their customers’ bills (see below).

Note how Missouri businesses cite the tax cuts as a driver of new job creation and pay increases:

State Fair Floral (Sedalia, Missouri) — Expanded operations and renovations to existing facilities:

“Having the corporate tax rate lowered from 35% to 21% will help us keep our long standing business alive and the ability to expand, renovate, and upgrade to better serve our customers for many years to come.” — Machie Limas, owner of State Fair Floral, May 2, 2018

Mid-AM Metal Forming (Rogersville, Missouri) – Bonuses for 140 employees:

Mid-AM Metal Forming is giving its 140 employees cash bonuses.

The local company is one of many companies, like Jet Blue and AT&T, giving employees a bonus because of the tax law reform.

“Mid-AM Metal Forming is excited about the positive implications the tax reform package will have both on the manufacturing industry and its employees,” President Steve Johnson said in a news release. “We have very dedicated employees that assist in making us a success. We are excited to surprise all of them with this reward.”

The company does metal stretch forming, bending, metal fabrication and painting services, according to the news release, serving aerospace, automotive, marine and architectural purposes. – Jan. 6, 2018 OzarksFirst.com article excerpt

Crane Brewing Company (Raytown, Missouri) – The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act allowed the brewery to create new jobs:

The beer is flowing in Raytown at Crane Brewing Company. Business is good now, vice president and co-founder Chris Meyers said. 

He credits the expansion of his business in part to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, he Meyers said substantially cut federal excise taxes on America’s brewers.

“For us, we’ve been able to add a canning line. We’ve been able to add some more staff here to kind of grow,” he explained. “At this point, there’s over 100 breweries in Missouri. Almost 10,000 people employed by the industry. Over a billion dollars in revenue to the state.”

The brewer said he believes the legislation helped spur small business growth.

“By cutting these excise taxes in half, it’s really let us move forward, produce more product, get more sales, and actually increase the revenue available to everyone,” Meyers told KCTV5 News. – Dec. 6, 2019 KCTV 5 News

Emerson Electric (St. Louis, Missouri) — Increasing employee bonus contributions, expanding family leave benefits, growing retirement funds:

Wage patterns at Ferguson, Missouri-based Emerson, a Fortune 500, diversified manufacturer, illustrate Farr’s point: Pay increased an average of 2.5 percent in 2016, by another 2.9 percent in 2017, and are on their way to increasing by an average of more than 3 percent this year. Plus, the company is boosting its contributions to bonuses and retirement funds and enhancing its family-leave program. – August 6, 2018 ChiefExecutive article excerpt

Iron Horse Energy Services Inc. (Eolia, Missouri) – bonuses for all 93 employees; due to a lower tax burden the company is also continuing to cover 100 percent of healthcare. Said one employee:

“We were also able to maintain 100% payment of Health care even after the astronomical yearly increases created by the affordable care act. We were looking at considerable employee participation in payment of premiums occurring this year.  Thank you Mr Trump for being a business man.”

Community Builders of Kansas City (Kansas City, Missouri) — The company is constructing a building that will host an apartment complex and office space in an Opportunity Zone created by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.: 

Community Builders of Kansas City is preparing to undertake a catalytic eight-phase mixed-use development that could see $80 million to $100 million invested in eastern Kansas City.

The development called the Offices at Overlook encompasses three Class A office buildings totaling about 180,000 square feet, plus four other buildings that combine 245,000 square feet for 155 apartments and 19,000 square feet of other mixed-use space.

Prospective tenants include those that provide in-demand services or amenities to the surrounding community, consistent with the developer’s mission, the release says.

These could include nonprofits, foundations and public-sector businesses serving and providing employment opportunities to the underserved area.

The Offices at Overlook development falls within Kansas City’s Swope Park Opportunity Zone, and is listed as a featured project within the city’s prospectus. A $2.5 million to $3.5 million investment is sought through the federal program.

Upon completion, the Offices at Overlook will bring CBKC’s total commercial development to more than 700,000 square feet and residential units to 850, according to its release. — June 17, 2020 Kansas City Business Journal

Twin Financial Partners (St. Louis, Missouri) — The company is moving into an office building in an Opportunity Zone created by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act:

St. Louis-based finance firm Twain Financial Partners has announced it has closed on financing for its new office building in the St. Louis area, the company said.

Twain specializes in public-private partnership investments and will be utilizing the historic, new markets, and solar tax credit programs in the development of its new office space.

Twain’s new building is located in a qualified Opportunity Zone, which further incentivizes the company’s investment into the Downtown West area.

The Opportunity Zone program, established by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on December 22, 2017, encourages long-term investment in economically distressed communities nationwide.

Twain Financial Partners is an investment management and specialty finance firm with more than USD 4 billion in assets under management within the public-private partnership sector. Twain specializes in state and federal historic tax credit investments, state low-income housing tax credit investments, and C-PACE financing. — January 8, 2019 press release

Community Builders Of Kansas City (Kansas City, Missouri) — The company will build a multifamily development in Kansas City located in an Opportunity Zone created by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act:

Community Builders of Kansas City will develop The Rochester on Blue Parkway, the first market-rate, multifamily development east of Prospect Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri, in generations.

The 81,400-square-foot, $12.6 million project, one of the first announced in a Kansas City-area Opportunity Zone, will have 64 residential units across four stories.

“The Rochester brings a residential option to this corridor that does not now exist,” said Emmet Pierson, Jr., president and chief executive officer of CBKC. —  April 1, 2020 RE Journals article

Hunter Chase & Associates (Springfield Township, Missouri) – Employee bonuses; purchase of new trucks and investment in equipment:

Hunter Chase & Associates employs 30 people and provides concrete construction primarily for municipalities in the St. Louis area. The construction management company was able purchase new trucks and handed out bonuses to its employees.

“We reinvested half a million dollars into new equipment trade off and doing deferment of maintenance that we have just not been able to feel like we could afford to do,” Hartman said. – March 15, 2018 Fox Business Network article excerpt

Ameren Missouri (St. Louis, Missouri) – The utility will pass cut savings to customers:

The Missouri Public Service Commission has approved an agreement that reduces the annual electric revenues of Union Electric Company doing business as Ameren Missouri.

The rate decrease of approximately $166,500.000 reflects a reduction in the corporate tax rate from 35 to 21% as a result of the passage of the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.  Residential customers using 1,000-kilowatt hours a month will see electric rates decrease by about $6.21 per month, effective August 1st. – July 6, 2018, KTTN article excerpt

Kansas City Power and Light (Kansas City, Missouri) – The utility will pass cut savings to customers:

Commissioners approved a stipulation and agreement filed by KCP&L Greater Missouri Operations Company (GMO). The stipulation and agreement comes after a Staff-initiated investigation into its steam service rates after the passage of the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.
 
The agreement included a 9 percent rate increase for GMO’s steam service operations as well as the elimination of the minimum coal standard and 85 percent sharing mechanism in its current quarterly cost adjustment. – May 16, 2018 News Tribune excerpt

Spire Inc. (St. Louis, Missouri) – The utility will pass cut savings to customers:

As a result of its recent rate case, Spire customers will pay less for safe and reliable natural gas service starting April 19. Typical residential customers in the St. Louis area will see their Spire natural gas bill decrease by approximately $2 per month. Spire bills remain lower than a decade ago, even while the company has upgraded hundreds of miles of pipeline across the region.

These savings are due primarily to the recent growth of Spire and federal tax reform. In the last five years, Spire has grown through acquisitions of natural gas utilities in Missouri, Alabama and Mississippi. Spire’s growth into the nation’s fifth-largest publicly traded gas utility has resulted in more than $70 million in annual savings for Missouri natural gas customers. These savings have been passed along to customers as a part of this rate case.

Spire is also the first Missouri utility to share the savings of federal tax cuts with customers. Spire asked the Public Service Commission to include the federal tax cut in the rate case to expedite savings to customers, even though the impact of tax reform fell outside the review period of the rate case. – March 22, 2018 Spire press release

Veolia Energy Kansas City, Inc. (Kansas City, Missouri) – The utility will pass cut savings to customers:

The agreement reflects the effect of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act which reduced the federal corporate income tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent for businesses, including utilities. – November 8, 2018 Missouri Public Service Commission document

Missouri American Water (Creve Coeur, Missouri) – The utility will pass cut savings to customers:

Water customers in Jefferson City using 5,000 gallons per month will see an increase of $4.21 per month for a total monthly bill of $40.23 plus taxes and fees, company officials said. This is an increase of approximately 11.7 percent.
 
“The rate request was in response to approximately $207 million of infrastructure investments made by Missouri American throughout its Missouri service areas that were not previously reflected in rates, and $48 million of previously approved Infrastructure System Replacement Surcharge investments,” said Missouri American spokesman Brian Russell. “The approved rates reflect savings of $18 million for our customers due to the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. – May 16, 2018 News Tribune excerpt

Powder Monkey Fireworks Inc., (Weldon Spring, Missouri) – The company deposited a bonus IRA contribution into employee’s accounts:

“The Tax Cuts & Jobs Act brings confidence to seasonal firework retailers and patriotic consumers who celebrate freedom each July 4th with fireworks. Our success in 2018 has allowed powder monkey FIREWORKS, Inc to contribute a bonus equal to 25% of annual payroll into SEP IRA accounts at no cost to employees. Our employees work evening, weekend, overnight, and seasonal summer job shifts to earn extra income retailing fireworks. Lower tax rates bring higher wages, more payroll, and more employee benefits.” Chris Sander, President of Powder Monkey Fireworks

Liberty Utilities (Joplin, Missouri) – The utility will pass cut savings to customers:

The agreement reflects the impact of the reduction in the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% resulting from the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. – June 7, 2018 Missouri Public Service Commission document

H Design Group (Springfield, Missouri) — The company is building a 1,940-unit apartment complex that will be located in an Opportunity Zone created by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act:

The five-story, 194-unit project would repurpose land once home to a dilapidated residential hotel frequented by adults and children living at the edge of homelessness. Groundbreaking is slated for next month; leases might be signed as soon as spring of 2021, said officials tied to the project.

“I think it’ll have a great impact,” said Rob Haik, principal architect for H Design Group in Springfield, which is working with Kansas City-based Hollis + Miller Architects to design the project for College Town International LLC, the California developer.

The deal is expected to rely on lender financing and public tax incentives.

Weinstein said his company has lined up multiple term sheets from lenders who are willing to finance the project, and that CTI will select a lender in four to six weeks. Thus far, he said, the complex is self-financed.

He said CTI became interested in the site because it lies in a “Q.O.Z.,” or qualified opportunity zone. As part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, the Trump administration designated about 8,800 opportunity zones in low-income census tracts across the United States, according to a New York Times report published in late August.

In Springfield, there are three opportunity zones: Downtown, where the CTI project site is located; a separate splotch of “central Springfield” between Sunshine and Sunset streets; and a big chunk of north Springfield that dwarfs the other two zones. — September 11, 2019 Springfield News-Leader article

CapStone Holdings (St. Louis, Missouri) — The company will be opening a food hall, theater, and offices in an Opportunity Zone created by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act:

A Florida investor announced Tuesday it had acquired a $40 million stake in Midtown’s City Foundry development, a $210 million renovation of the former Federal Mogul industrial site into a food hall, theater and offices.
 
The announcement from investor CapStone Holdings comes as the project, spearheaded by the Lawrence Group’s Steve Smith, approaches an anticipated summer opening after more than four years of planning and construction.
 
“St. Louis is ready for this unique kind of experience and we are extremely pleased to have CapStone as a key funding partner in assisting us realize our vision,” Smith, principal owner of City Foundry, said in a statement.
 
CapStone is headed by Keith J. Stone and focuses on investing in real estate and high-growth opportunity technology firms and financial tech startups.
 
“The significant buzz that is building among the business community, the excitement among residents and the national attention this and other projects are generating for St. Louis all confirm the factors leading to our partnership in City Foundry,” Stone said in a statement.
 
City Foundry, long an abandoned factory visible from Highway 40 (Interstate 64) is located in an Opportunity Zone, a designation created by the 2017 federal tax law that offers tax benefits to real estate investors. City Foundry was able to use the zone to raise capital for the project. St. Louis has also approved $19.4 million in tax increment financing assistance for the huge redevelopment. — March 4, 2020 St. Louis Post-Dispatch article

Fairfield Inn and Suites (St. Louis, Missouri) — The hotel is building a location in an Opportunity Zone created by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act:

Throughout the region, developers with projects in eligible areas, known as Opportunity Zones, are using the new tax break provision to raise more money. At the same time, those developers say, the program is helping attract new investors to St. Louis.

Yet right next door, the 136-room Fairfield Inn and Suites, being developed by Equis Hotels, is using an Opportunity Zone fund. In Creve Coeur’s 39 North plant science district, Larry Chapman’s Seneca Commercial Real Estate is, too, as part of the $52 million future headquarters of Benson Hill BiosystemsLawrence Group’s City Foundry project has also used the new provision to raise capital for the Midtown entertainment and office development. — January 11, 2020 St. Louis Post-Dispatch article

Benson Hill Biosystems (St. Louis, Missouri) — The company is expanding and moving headquarters in order to be located in an Opportunity Zone created by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act:

Throughout the region, developers with projects in eligible areas, known as Opportunity Zones, are using the new tax break provision to raise more money. At the same time, those developers say, the program is helping attract new investors to St. Louis.

Yet right next door, the 136-room Fairfield Inn and Suites, being developed by Equis Hotels, is using an Opportunity Zone fund. In Creve Coeur’s 39 North plant science district, Larry Chapman’s Seneca Commercial Real Estate is, too, as part of the $52 million future headquarters of Benson Hill BiosystemsLawrence Group’s City Foundry project has also used the new provision to raise capital for the Midtown entertainment and office development. — January 11, 2020 St. Louis Post-Dispatch article

Winco Fireworks (Kansas City, Missouri) — The fireworks company moved its warehouse to a new location in an Opportunity Zone created by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act:

………..

Michael Collar’s company was in the right place at the right time.

Winco Fireworks International LLC had made a nice capital gain on a real estate sale in another division. A year and a half earlier, Winco had moved its warehouse to Grandview in an area that would become an Opportunity Zone.

Collar, president of Winco, said it suddenly made sense for the company to relocate its headquarters to the area, investing its capital gain in its growth while bringing jobs to the area.

“When we move to a community, we really like to invest in that community,” he said.

Winco’s experience isn’t emblematic of all Opportunity Zone deals, but it does show how companies — and investors — can leverage the zones’ power for financial and community benefit. — July 19, 2019 Kansas City Business Journal article

Dynamic Fastener (Raytown, Missouri) – new paint shop expansion, new equipment purchases and employee hires; employee bonuses of up to $1,000:

Tax reform benefits are reaching ordinary workers at Dynamic Fasteners.

The company sells sheet metal screws and rivets for metal buildings. And the owner anticipates more metal structures being built as the economy takes off.

More than a hundred people work for Dynamic Fasteners, and though it’s not a pass through LLC or a corporation that will see the biggest benefits of a 21 percent tax rate, Owner Kevin Perz says he believes the tax cuts will be so good for the economy that he wanted to make sure he rewarded his employees for their loyalty.

“We are giving a maximum of $1,000 per full time employee,” Perz said. “It’s $200 for each year or partial year that you’ve been here. If you’ve been here four years and a day you get the thousand dollars. Part time employees get half of that.”

Workers will receive their bonus on February 15. That’s about the same time workers also should notice a boost in their checks from lowered federal tax rates. Perz says taxes taken from his workers’ checks are being reduced by about two and a half percent.

Warehouse workers like Solomon Essex say news of the $1,000 bonus he’s getting caught him off guard.

“We all benefit from the economy being better,” said Essex, who’s worked for the company for 12 years. “For the simple fact that it improves life. It improves everybody’s life at the same time. The boost in the economy is a great thing. It is appreciative to I’m sure many people, especially me because it will help me.”

The company says it also now will open a paint shop in Las Vegas because of the tax savings it’s receiving. That will mean hiring more workers and spending money on new equipment. All good news for an economy that Perz says is starting to boom.  — Jan. 24 2018, Fox 4 News Article

Hostess Brands, Inc. (Kansas City, Missouri) — $750 cash bonuses; $500 in 401(k) contributions; free snacks for a year:

Hostess Brands Inc., feeling flush after last month’s tax overhaul, will offer bonuses to workers — including free snacks.

The company, which makes Twinkies, Ding Dongs and Ho Hos, is providing its employees one-time payments of $1,250 — with $750 in cash and $500 in the form of a 401(k) contribution. In taking the step, Hostess cited last month’s tax legislation, which slashed the rate for U.S. corporations.

It’s also offering a year’s worth of free food to workers — though they won’t be able to eat all the Ding Dongs they like. A representative from each of Hostess’s bakeries will choose a product each week, and the employees will be able to take home a multipack of that item. The company also makes Hostess CupCakes, Fruit Pies and Donettes. – Jan. 31, 2018 Bloomberg News article excerpt

Kansas City Southern (Kansas City, Missouri) — $1,000 bonuses for non-executive employees:

Kansas City Southern (KCS) (NYSE: KSU) announced today that in response to congressional passage of The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, it will immediately share some of the benefits with qualified, non-executive employees of its subsidiaries in the U.S. and Mexico in the form of a one-time $1,000 bonus payable by the end of 2017.

“Kansas City Southern is pleased with the passage of this legislation and optimistic about what it could mean for our customers, investors and growth in the U.S. economy, as well as trade growth with Mexico.  KCS wants to share the benefit with our employees, who work so hard to serve our customers and increase shareholder value,” said KCS president and chief executive officer Patrick J. Ottensmeyer. — Dec. 21, 2017 Kansas City Southern press release

Bank of Advance (Advance, Missouri) — $1,000 bonuses to all staff.

Royal Banks of Missouri (Saint Louis, Missouri) – On Feb. 23, 2018, full-time employees received $1,000 bonuses; part-time employees received $500 bonuses. (Senior management did not receive the bonuses.)

Central Bancompany, Inc. (Jefferson City, Missouri) – Bonuses to 2,500 employees: $1,000 bonuses for full time employees; $500 bonuses for part time employees:

In December 2017, U.S. Congress passed a comprehensive tax reform package to encourage economic growth across the nation. As a result of the federal tax reform, Central Bancompany plans to distribute a special bonus to its more than 2,500 employees residing across four states – Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, and Oklahoma. Full-time employees will receive a $1,000 bonus and part-time employees will receive a $500 bonus.

“The economic development that should ensue as a direct result of the new tax reform legislation will positively affect the more than 66 communities we serve,” said Bryan Cook, Chairman and CEO of Central Bancompany, Inc. “We are excited for the opportunity to reward our dedicated and hard-working employees with this special bonus as a token of our gratitude for all that they do for our customers, businesses, and communities.” – Jan. 5, 2018 Central Bancompany press release

College of the Ozarks (Point Lookout, Missouri) — $204 bonuses for employees:

College of the Ozarks has decided to issue a check to each College employee in the amount of $204 as a result of savings from the recent U.S. Tax Code revision.

“We were expecting to have to pay the extra amount in Obamacare costs,” said College President Jerry C. Davis. “We are grateful for this savings and want to pass it along to our hard-working employees. It is a simple, but tangible, way to express our appreciation to them. We hope other organizations will consider doing the same.”

Among the changes in the recent revision was the elimination of the “Obamacare” mandate provision, which will reduce the College’s 2018-19 Blue Cross Blue Shield premiums by about 2.7 percent. This one-time premium savings is being passed on to all permanent, full-time employees, each of whom will receive a check near the end of January. – Jan. 18, 2018 College of the Ozarks press release

Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (Kansas City, Missouri) – Bonuses for 3,450 employees — $1,000 for full time employees and $250 for part time employees; $25 million in charitable donations:

“The new tax reform legislation should be very positive for economic growth and capital investment which will benefit the banking industry. This new law makes the banking industry more competitive and allows us to reward our core employees who work hard every day to provide superior service to the people and the companies we serve while building long term customer relationships so important to our communities and shareholders. In addition, we are very pleased to provide significant additional funding to The Commerce Bancshares Foundation which will strengthen our ability to continue to support the communities where we do business and whose prosperity is so important to our business.” – Jan. 2, 2018 Commerce Bancshares, Inc. press release

Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. (Springfield, Missouri) — 1,200 employees to receive a bonus: full time employees receive $1,000 and part time employees receive $500:

“The recently passed tax reform package should have positive implications for the U. S. economy, which we expect will benefit the banking industry, including Great Southern. We are pleased to take advantage of the unique opportunity presented by the tax reform legislation by rewarding our associates with this special bonus.” – Jan. 3, 2018 Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. press release

Hawthorn Bank (Jefferson City, Missouri) — $1,000 bonuses for full-time employees; $500 bonuses for part-time employees:

Jefferson City-based Hawthorn Bank announced Thursday it will give employees bonuses of up to $1,000 because of the recent tax cut passed by Congress.

Full-time employees will receive bonuses of $1,000, and part-time employees $500. Hawthorn became the second local bank to give bonuses after Congress passed a sweeping tax cut for businesses and individuals in December.

Hawthorn Bank’s board of directors approved the bonuses at its January board meeting, said Gregg Bexten, president of Hawthorn Bank’s central region.

“It’s very emotional for some of these people,” Bexten said. “A thousand dollars for a bank teller or customer service representative — that’s a lot of money.”

With assets of $1.4 billion, Hawthorn Bank employs more than 300 people at 23 branches throughout Missouri. Hawthorn Bank CEO David Turner said in a news release the company expects the tax cut to spur economic development. — Feb. 2, 2018 Jefferson City News Tribune article excerpt

Home Depot— 34 locations in Missouri, Missouri-based Home Depot employees will receive bonuses of up to $1,000.

Lowes – 6,000 employees at 48 stores and one distribution center in Missouri. Employees will receive bonuses of up to $1,000 based on length of service, expanded benefits and maternity/parental leave; and $5,000 of adoption assistance.

Stifel Financial Corporation (St. Louis, Missouri) – $1,500 bonuses for 7,000 employees:

“This additional $1,500 payment is in recognition of your hard work and efforts this year to make Stifel a success, as well as the positive environment that we anticipate the tax legislation passed this week by Congress will create for Stifel,”[CEO Ron] Kruszewski wrote in personalized emails to salaried employees that greeted them by their first names— Dec. 26, 2017 AdvisorHub article excerpt

Tyson Foods Inc. — 5,800 Missourians employed at Tyson Food Inc. received tax reform bonuses; $500 bonuses for part-time employees, $1,000 bonuses for full-time employees:

Most of Missouri’s 5,800 Tyson Foods workers are expected to get one-time bonuses the week of February 26.

According to a company press release, eligible full-time workers will receive $1,000, and eligible part-time staff will receive $500.

The company operates five plants in Missouri – in Dexter, Noel, Monett, Sedalia and St. Joseph.

Tyson President and CEO Tom Hayes the bonuses are in response to more than $300 million in savings from a federal tax package passed by Congress in December. The plan included a corporate tax reduction from 35% to 21%.”    — Feb. 12 2018, OzarksFirst powered by KOLR 10 News

BancorpSouth Bank – 7 locations in Missouri. Nationally, pay raises for over 70 percent of employees; $1,000 bonuses for nearly 20 percent of employees:

Apple (There are three Apple store locations in Missouri: Kansas City, St. Louis Galleria, St. Louis West County) — $2,500 employee bonuses in the form of restricted stock units; nationally, $30 billion in additional capital expenditures over five years; 20,000 new employees will be hired; increased support of coding education and science, technology, engineering, arts, and math; increased support for U.S. manufacturing.

AT&T — $1,000 bonuses to 8,253 Missouri employees; Nationwide, $1 billion increase in capital expenditures.

Bank of America (Multiple locations in Missouri) — $1,000 bonuses.

Chipotle Mexican Grill (Multiple locations in Missouri) – Bonuses ranging from $250 to $1,000; increased employee benefits; nationally, $50 million investment in existing restaurants.

Cintas Corporation (Multiple locations in Missouri — $1,000 bonuses for employees of at least a year, $500 bonuses for employees of less than a year.

CVS Health (Multiple locations in Missouri) — Base wage raised to $11 per hour, and other pay ranges adjusted accordingly; company will absorb increases costs of health insurance premiums; creation of new parental leave program.

Comcast (Multiple locations in Missouri) — $1,000 bonuses; nationally, at least $50 billion investment in infrastructure in next five years.

Ryder (Thirteen locations in Missouri) – Tax reform bonuses for employees totaling $23 million nationwide.

Starbucks Coffee Company (Multiple locations in Missouri) – $500 stock grants for all Starbucks retail employees, $2,000 stock grants for store managers, and varying plant and support center employee stock grants, totaling more than $100 million in stock grants nationwide; 8,000 new retail jobs and 500 new manufacturing jobs; an additional wage increase this year, totaling approximately $120 million in wage increases, increased sick time benefits and parental leave.

U-Haul (Multiple locations in Missouri) – $1,200 bonuses for full-time employees, $500 for part-time employees.

Waste Management, Inc. (Multiple locations in Missouri) — $2,000 bonuses.

Anthem (Multiple locations in Missouri) — $1,000 in extra 401(k) contributions for 58,000 employees.

Walmart – 138 locations in Missouri — 25,700 Missourians employed at Walmart will receive tax reform bonuses and wage increases and expanded maternity and parental leave. Walmart employees who adopt children will be given $5,000 to help cover expenses.

Taco John’s (11 locations in Missouri: Blue Springs, Cape Girardeau, Columbia, Lebanon, Maryville, Odessa, Sikeston, and four locations St. Joseph): All full-time and part-time crew members received a $200 after-tax bonus:

Taco John’s International, Inc. announced today that in response to the 2018 Tax Cut and Jobs Act, the company gave part of its projected tax savings to its restaurant crews, general managers, corporate staff and CORE (Children of Restaurant Employees).

On Friday, Feb. 23, Taco John’s International, Inc.’s employees received a one-time bonus, as follows:

  • Every restaurant crew member – full-time and part-time – received $200 (after taxes);
  • General managers and employees at the Taco John’s Franchisee Support Center in Cheyenne received $1,000 each; and,
  • The Executive Council of Taco John’s International, Inc. (Vice Presidents and above) donated their $1,000 bonuses (a total of $10,000) to CORE, a national not-for-profit organization that grants support to children of food and beverage service employees who are navigating life-altering circumstances.
     

“At Taco John’s International, our team is our family, so sharing the financial benefits that were a result of the recent tax reform legislation only makes sense,” said Jim Creel, CEO of Taco John’s International, Inc. “We encourage other restaurant brands to follow our example and give a portion of their savings to the people that are at the heart of what we do and to great organizations like CORE that support our crew. One hundred percent of CORE’s funds directly benefit children of restaurant employees who have been afflicted with life-threating conditions.”

“We are so grateful to the Taco John’s team for their generous donation to our CORE family members,” said Lauren LaViola, executive director of CORE. “Donations like theirs help us provide for our food and beverage service families experiencing loss, illness and other life-changing circumstances, and help us get closer to our goal of helping even more families across all 50 states in 2018.”

The total amount that Taco John’s International, Inc. gave exceeded $150,000.00. – Feb. 28, 2018 Taco John’s International, Inc. press release

Note: If you know of other Missouri examples, please email John Kartch at [email protected].

The running nationwide list of companies can be found at www.atr.org/list.