Highest Taxed States

Last updated September 18, 2024

Effective State Tax Rate
Top
Last
Effective State Tax Rate
1.New YorkNew York15.9%
2.ConnecticutConnecticut15.4%
3.HawaiiHawaii14.1%
4.VermontVermont13.6%
5.CaliforniaCalifornia13.5%
6.New JerseyNew Jersey13.2%
7.IllinoisIllinois12.9%
8.VirginiaVirginia12.5%
9.DelawareDelaware12.4%
10.MaineMaine12.4%
11.MinnesotaMinnesota12.1%
12.UtahUtah12.1%
13.MassachusettsMassachusetts11.5%
14.NebraskaNebraska11.5%
15.Rhode IslandRhode Island11.4%
16.MarylandMaryland11.3%
17.IowaIowa11.2%
18.KansasKansas11.2%
19.WisconsinWisconsin10.9%
20.OregonOregon10.8%
21.IdahoIdaho10.7%
22.WashingtonWashington10.7%
23.PennsylvaniaPennsylvania10.6%
24.MontanaMontana10.5%
25.ArkansasArkansas10.2%
26.New MexicoNew Mexico10.2%
27.OhioOhio10.0%
28.North CarolinaNorth Carolina9.9%
29.AlabamaAlabama9.8%
30.MississippiMississippi9.8%
31.West VirginiaWest Virginia9.8%
32.ColoradoColorado9.7%
33.KentuckyKentucky9.6%
34.NevadaNevada9.6%
35.New HampshireNew Hampshire9.6%
36.ArizonaArizona9.5%
37.IndianaIndiana9.3%
38.MissouriMissouri9.3%
39.FloridaFlorida9.1%
40.LouisianaLouisiana9.1%
41.OklahomaOklahoma9.0%
42.GeorgiaGeorgia8.9%
43.South CarolinaSouth Carolina8.9%
44.North DakotaNorth Dakota8.8%
45.MichiganMichigan8.6%
46.TexasTexas8.6%
47.South DakotaSouth Dakota8.4%
48.TennesseeTennessee7.6%
49.WyomingWyoming7.5%
50.AlaskaAlaska4.6%

Introduction

In the realm of taxes, understanding how each state imposes its burdens is crucial information for residents and potential movers alike. Varied across income, property, and sales taxes, the structure and rates significantly impact the life quality and financial planning of individuals and businesses.

  • New York tops the list with the highest effective state tax rate of 15.9%, followed closely by Connecticut at 15.4%. Indicating that residents in these two states, on average, pay a higher percentage of their income in state taxes than any other U.S. region.
  • The Northeastern U.S seems to have a high overall tax burden, with five states - New York, Connecticut, Vermont, New Jersey, and Maine - listed in the top ten.
  • Conversely, Southern states appear to have lower tax rates overall. Most notably, Tennessee and Wyoming have effective state tax rates under 8%, while Alaska, the lowest-taxed state, has an effective state tax rate of just 4.6%.
  • Interestingly, seven out of eight states (Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming) with no state income taxes appear in the lower half of the list, affirming that they leverage other avenues such as sales and property taxes to collect revenue.

10 Highest Taxed States

Topping this list, is New York with an effective tax rate of 15.9%. A close second, Connecticut impresses with an effective state tax rate of 15.4%. Following suit, we have Hawaii third on the list with an effective state tax rate of 14.1%. Along with its high state income tax rate, Hawaii’s general excise tax plays a significant role in its overall tax burden. Vermont and California take the subsequent places with Vermont reporting an effective state tax rate of 13.6%, and California just behind at 13.5%. Moving down the list, we find New Jersey with an effective state tax rate of 13.2%, and Illinois with a rate of 12.9%. Virginia, Delaware, and Maine are close competitors, with effective tax rates of 12.5%, 12.4%, and 12.4%, respectively.

10 Highest Taxed States:

  1. New York - 15.9%
  2. Connecticut - 15.4%
  3. Hawaii - 14.1%
  4. Vermont - 13.6%
  5. California - 13.5%
  6. New Jersey - 13.2%
  7. Illinois - 12.9%
  8. Virginia - 12.5%
  9. Delaware - 12.4%
  10. Maine - 12.4%

By Region

Alabama

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Ranked in U.S.

#29

Alaska

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Ranked in U.S.

#50

Arizona

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Ranked in U.S.

#36

Arkansas

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Ranked in U.S.

#25

California

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Ranked in U.S.

#5

Colorado

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Ranked in U.S.

#32

Connecticut

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Ranked in U.S.

#2

Delaware

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Ranked in U.S.

#9

Florida

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Ranked in U.S.

#39

Georgia

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Ranked in U.S.

#42

Hawaii

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Ranked in U.S.

#3

Idaho

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Ranked in U.S.

#21

Illinois

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Ranked in U.S.

#7

Indiana

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Ranked in U.S.

#37

Iowa

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Ranked in U.S.

#17

Kansas

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Ranked in U.S.

#18

Kentucky

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Ranked in U.S.

#33

Louisiana

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Ranked in U.S.

#40

Maine

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Ranked in U.S.

#10

Maryland

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Ranked in U.S.

#16

Massachusetts

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Ranked in U.S.

#13

Michigan

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Ranked in U.S.

#45

Minnesota

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Ranked in U.S.

#11

Mississippi

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Ranked in U.S.

#30

Missouri

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Ranked in U.S.

#38

Montana

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Ranked in U.S.

#24

Nebraska

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Ranked in U.S.

#14

Nevada

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Ranked in U.S.

#34

New Hampshire

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Ranked in U.S.

#35

New Jersey

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Ranked in U.S.

#6

New Mexico

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Ranked in U.S.

#26

New York

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Ranked in U.S.

#1

North Carolina

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Ranked in U.S.

#28

North Dakota

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Ranked in U.S.

#44

Ohio

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Ranked in U.S.

#27

Oklahoma

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Ranked in U.S.

#41

Oregon

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Ranked in U.S.

#20

Pennsylvania

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Ranked in U.S.

#23

Rhode Island

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Ranked in U.S.

#15

South Carolina

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Ranked in U.S.

#43

South Dakota

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Ranked in U.S.

#47

Tennessee

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Ranked in U.S.

#48

Texas

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Ranked in U.S.

#46

Utah

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Ranked in U.S.

#12

Vermont

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Ranked in U.S.

#4

Virginia

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Ranked in U.S.

#8

Washington

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Ranked in U.S.

#22

West Virginia

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Ranked in U.S.

#31

Wisconsin

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Ranked in U.S.

#19

Wyoming

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Ranked in U.S.

#49

Table

Region ↕Effective State Tax Rate↕
Alabama iconAlabama9.8%
Alaska iconAlaska4.6%
Arizona iconArizona9.5%
Arkansas iconArkansas10.2%
California iconCalifornia13.5%
Colorado iconColorado9.7%
Connecticut iconConnecticut15.4%
Delaware iconDelaware12.4%
Florida iconFlorida9.1%
Georgia iconGeorgia8.9%
Hawaii iconHawaii14.1%
Idaho iconIdaho10.7%
Illinois iconIllinois12.9%
Indiana iconIndiana9.3%
Iowa iconIowa11.2%
Kansas iconKansas11.2%
Kentucky iconKentucky9.6%
Louisiana iconLouisiana9.1%
Maine iconMaine12.4%
Maryland iconMaryland11.3%
Massachusetts iconMassachusetts11.5%
Michigan iconMichigan8.6%
Minnesota iconMinnesota12.1%
Mississippi iconMississippi9.8%
Missouri iconMissouri9.3%
Montana iconMontana10.5%
Nebraska iconNebraska11.5%
Nevada iconNevada9.6%
New Hampshire iconNew Hampshire9.6%
New Jersey iconNew Jersey13.2%
New Mexico iconNew Mexico10.2%
New York iconNew York15.9%
North Carolina iconNorth Carolina9.9%
North Dakota iconNorth Dakota8.8%
Ohio iconOhio10.0%
Oklahoma iconOklahoma9.0%
Oregon iconOregon10.8%
Pennsylvania iconPennsylvania10.6%
Rhode Island iconRhode Island11.4%
South Carolina iconSouth Carolina8.9%
South Dakota iconSouth Dakota8.4%
Tennessee iconTennessee7.6%
Texas iconTexas8.6%
Utah iconUtah12.1%
Vermont iconVermont13.6%
Virginia iconVirginia12.5%
Washington iconWashington10.7%
West Virginia iconWest Virginia9.8%
Wisconsin iconWisconsin10.9%
Wyoming iconWyoming7.5%
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