RALEIGH – Citing number from the Department of Revenue, Republicans are noting tax relief passed in the most recent budget protects hundreds of thousands of low-income North Carolinians from paying any income tax by 2019.

The department’s projections exceed recent estimates by the General Assembly’s Fiscal Research Division that 230,000 low-income families and individuals will no longer pay income tax by 2019 thanks to Republican tax relief.

The Revenue Department, a cabinet agency under Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, projects a higher number – 241,536 – of low-income North Carolina families and individuals who will no longer pay any income tax by 2019 due to increasing the zero-tax bracket.

Governor Cooper vetoed the budget, but that was overridden by a two third majority in the Republican led General Assembly.