State Income Tax Comparison
Compare state income tax rates side by side.
Enter income to see exact tax owed in any two states, including the 9 states with no income tax.
Comparing tax burden across US states involves looking beyond just the income tax rate. The total effective tax burden includes income tax, sales tax, and property tax.
Effective income tax rate: Effective Rate = Total Income Tax Paid ÷ Gross Income × 100
This differs from the marginal rate (the rate on the last dollar earned) because progressive brackets mean lower income is taxed at lower rates.
After-tax income: After-Tax Income = Gross Income − Federal Tax − State Income Tax − FICA (7.65%)
Total state tax burden: Total State Burden = State Income Tax + Sales Tax Paid + Property Tax (Expressed as % of income for comparison)
Worked example — $100,000 income comparison:
California (high-tax state):
- State income tax: ~$6,000 (6% effective rate)
- Sales tax: ~$1,800 (spending ~$40,000 at 4.5% average rate)
- Total state burden: ~$7,800 (~7.8%)
Texas (no income tax):
- State income tax: $0
- Sales tax: ~$3,200 (spending ~$40,000 at 8% combined rate)
- Total state burden: ~$3,200 (~3.2%)
States with no income tax (2024): Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire (interest/dividends only), South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wyoming
States with highest combined tax burden: New York, California, New Jersey, Illinois, Connecticut
Important caveat: Lower tax states often have higher property taxes (Texas), higher costs of living in desirable areas, or fewer public services. A complete cost-of-living comparison should accompany any tax-rate comparison when making relocation decisions.