How Does Your State Rank on Taxes?

www.taxfoundation.org ^

[Straight Vermonter]

 

Comparing the Total Tax Burden in Each State to Just the State/Local Tax Burden

 

Each state’s total tax burden represents a combination of federal, state, and local tax burdens. It can be instructive, however, to strip out federal taxes and compare just the tax burdens of states and localities.

The 33 links below display tables that compare total taxes as a percentage of income for each state to state/local taxes as a percentage of income, ranked in order, for the years 1971 to 2002.

Look at other years

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Effective State and Local Tax Burdens by State and Rank
Calendar Year 2002

	State and Local			Total
	Tax Burden	Rank		Tax Burden	Rank	Change in Ranking
Total	10.2%			32.1%
Maine	12.8%	1	Maine	32.7%	11	-10
New York	12.3%	2	New York	34.7%	3	-1
Wisconsin	12.0%	3	Wisconsin	33.2%	6	-3
Hawaii	11.6%	4	Hawaii	30.9%	30	-26
Minnesota	11.3%	5	Minnesota	32.9%	7	-2
Rhode Island	11.3%	6	Rhode Island	32.5%	13	-7
Arkansas	11.3%	7	Arkansas	31.2%	26	-19
Utah	11.2%	8	Utah	31.2%	27	-19
Ohio	11.2%	9	Ohio	31.6%	20	-11
Vermont	11.0%	10	Vermont	32.1%	16	-6
Connecticut	10.9%	11	Connecticut	36.7%	1	10
New Mexico	10.9%	12	New Mexico	30.4%	34	-22
Nebraska	10.8%	13	Nebraska	31.6%	19	-6
Michigan	10.7%	14	Michigan	32.8%	8	6
Mississippi	10.7%	15	Mississippi	29.8%	43	-28
Louisiana	10.5%	16	Louisiana	30.1%	41	-25
Idaho	10.5%	17	Idaho	30.3%	37	-20
Kentucky	10.5%	18	Kentucky	30.2%	39	-21
West Virginia	10.5%	19	West Virginia	29.1%	48	-29
Washington	10.5%	20	Washington	35.6%	2	18
Kansas	10.4%	21	Kansas	31.4%	23	-2
Iowa	10.4%	22	Iowa	30.6%	32	-10
New Jersey	10.3%	23	New Jersey	34.3%	4	19
California	10.3%	24	California	32.7%	10	14
Georgia	10.2%	25	Georgia	31.4%	22	3
North Dakota	10.2%	26	North Dakota	29.5%	45	-19
Delaware	10.2%	27	Delaware	31.7%	17	10
Arizona	10.1%	28	Arizona	31.7%	18	10
North Carolina	10.1%	29	North Carolina	30.4%	35	-6
South Carolina	10.0%	30	South Carolina	30.2%	40	-10
Illinois	10.0%	31	Illinois	32.8%	9	22
Montana	10.0%	32	Montana	29.8%	42	-10
Oklahoma	9.9%	33	Oklahoma	29.0%	49	-16
Indiana	9.9%	34	Indiana	30.9%	31	3
Pennsylvania	9.9%	35	Pennsylvania	31.1%	28	7
Wyoming	9.8%	36	Wyoming	34.1%	5	31
Maryland	9.7%	37	Maryland	31.1%	29	8
Missouri	9.7%	38	Missouri	30.2%	38	0
Massachusetts	9.5%	39	Massachusetts	32.6%	12	27
Virginia	9.4%	40	Virginia	31.3%	25	15
Oregon	9.4%	41	Oregon	30.5%	33	8
Florida	9.3%	42	Florida	32.2%	15	27
Nevada	9.2%	43	Nevada	32.3%	14	29
South Dakota	9.1%	44	South Dakota	29.7%	44	0
Colorado	9.1%	45	Colorado	31.3%	24	21
Alabama	9.1%	46	Alabama	29.1%	47	-1
Texas	9.0%	47	Texas	30.4%	36	11
New Hampshire	8.6%	48	New Hampshire	31.6%	21	27
Tennessee	8.4%	49	Tennessee	29.2%	46	3
Alaska	6.3%	50	Alaska	27.0%	50	0
District of Columbia	13.9%	-		37.6%

 

 

Look at other years

 

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[the bottle let me down]

Why would Federal taxes be different from State to State?

States with higher average income will have more people in high federal tax brackets. Hence the average Federal tax paid by people in that state will be higher than in states with lower average income.

[the bottle let me down]

dated information: Virginia now has a Rat governor

[Ken H]

Ahhh, yes. Thanks.

I think they also forgot to include FICA, which adds about about 15% to the total burden for the first ~60,000 of income.

I use the 15% figure since the employer's 7.65% FICA contribution is really your money.

[Southack]

"Why would Federal taxes be different from State to State?"

Not all states have state income taxes (property taxes instead or in addition to). State income taxes are deductible from federal taxes. Property taxes are not.

Hence, the difference in federal taxes from state to state...

[IronJack]

Due to budget shortfalls and the corresponding increases in state income (and probably personal property) tax, expect Nebraska to rise quickly in these rankings.

[MissAmericanPie]

We need a great big tax revolt. When I think about the trillions wasted on third world countries for the last 40 years, on welfare, on a million lame grants. ugh

[the bottle let me down]

I think they also forgot to include FICA, which adds about about 15% to the total burden for the first ~60,000 of income.

In 2002, the first $84,900 is subject to social security tax. There is no cap on the amount subject to the 1.45% (plus 1.45% "employer match") Medicare tax.

[TN Republican]

I have seen the PA tax schedules and they have managed to keep the IT rates down. Isn't it a flat rate of 2.5% or something like that?

I am amazed that the politicians have not been able to raise it. Must be some kind of super-majority requirement, but that's only my guess.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Yes it is actually a flat rate, and even though we "think" we want a flat rate, each year when I go to figure it, I am peeved that we can't deduct certain things......lol......guess when it comes to taxes, we are never happy........

[TN Republican]

Some states also have a higher proportion of achievers, while other states have a higher proportion of EIC trash.

[Ken H]

Got it. Thanks.

It's enough to make you want to move to the great State of Intoxication!

[the bottle let me down]

I think they also forgot to include FICA

I just looked at the source report, which claims that "everything that hte government calls a tax is included." So FICA is in. That's not surprising, and the numbers seem about right.

[k2blader]

Great post--thank you. Interesting how Hawaii (my state) is ranked #4 for state/local tax burden but #30 for total tax burden. Wondering what causes the huge drop. Population? Average income?

[apackof2]

We need a great big tax revolt.

I couldn't agree more!
Wanna start one?
First step, change voting day to April 16th!
My state, Michigan is 8 WITH a Republican Govenor & Legislature!!

[Straight Vermonter]

The federal tax is income based most local taxes (property tax, sales tax etc) is not income based. A state like Connecticut with high income is going to pay a higher federal rate and skew the percentages. That was the reason for breaking out the federal tax.

[the bottle let me down]

Great post--thank you. Interesting how Hawaii (my state) is ranked #4 for state/local tax burden but #30 for total tax burden. Wondering what causes the huge drop. Population? Average income?

Probably a low average income, which leads to lower than average federal taxes.

[f.Christian]

Hawaii 11.6%...4...Hawaii 30.9% 30 -26

[glockmeister40]

Eastern Washington, Eastern Oregon and Idaho should combine into one anti-liberal, anti-democrat state. A nice place to live.