State sales tax revenue totaled $3.8 billion in April

AUSTIN — Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar today said state sales tax revenue totaled $3.83 billion in April, 12.8 percent more than in April 2021.

The majority of April sales tax revenue is based on sales made in March and remitted to the agency in April.

“State sales tax collections reached a new high for the month of April, with double-digit growth reflecting both inflation and continued expansion in real economic activity and employment,” Hegar said. 

“The strongest growth was in receipts from sectors driven by business spending, particularly the oil and gas mining sector, which surpassed pre-pandemic levels as capital spending in the sector picks up. Receipts from the construction, manufacturing, and wholesale trade sectors continued to show double-digit growth.

“Among sectors driven by consumer spending, the strongest growth in receipts was in arts and recreation services, with receipts from sporting events, music and other live entertainment, and fitness clubs far exceeding previous year levels. Receipts from restaurants continued to exhibit double-digit growth as well.

“Receipts from retail trade remain elevated, though only a little higher than a year ago when retail spending surged after the end of COVID restrictions. Slowing growth in receipts from retail trade may signal shifts in consumer spending back toward pre-pandemic patterns.

Growth in spending in segments that had benefited during the pandemic appeared to stall, as receipts from home improvement and furniture stores changed little from a year ago, while receipts from sporting goods and hobby stores declined.”

Total sales tax revenue for the three months ending in April 2022 was up 22.3 percent compared to the same period a year ago. Sales tax is the largest source of state funding for the state budget, accounting for 59 percent of all tax collections.

Texas collected the following revenue from other major taxes:

• motor vehicle sales and rental taxes — $525 million, up 39 percent from April 2021;
• motor fuel taxes — $335 million, up 3 percent from April 2021;
• oil production tax — $666 million, the highest monthly collections on record, up 99 percent from April 2021;
• natural gas production tax — $339 million, up 46 percent from April 2021;
• hotel occupancy tax — $76 million, the highest monthly collections on record, up 49 percent from April 2021; and
• alcoholic beverage taxes — $152 million, the highest monthly collections on record, up 27 percent from April 2021.