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States Where People Pay the Most (and Least) in Taxes

Where Taxes Are Highest and Lowest

Different states tax their residences at different levels. In some states, like New Jersey, residents pay 12.2 percent as a percentage of their income. In others, like Alaska, they pay as little as 6.3 percent. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a report recently released by the Tax Foundation to identify the states where residents paid the most and least in state and local taxes as a percent of income.

The total tax burden an individual pays refers to the percentage of state residents’ income that goes to state and local taxes, and, on top of that, what each person must pay the federal government. The equation that puts all of those numbers together is complicated, and is among the reasons that the debate over federal taxes is so heated. People often end up with payments to several tax authorities. Their nominal federal tax rate may mean very little when it comes to what must be paid to all applicable government bodies at the end of each year. The amount that a person keeps from each dollar that he or she earns can be affected more by local government needs than those of the federal government.

Read on to see the states where residents pay the most and least in taxes.

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Where Taxes Are ... Different states tax their residences at different levels. In some states, like New Jersey, residents pay 12.2 percent as a percentage of their income. In others, like Alaska, they pay as little as 6.3 percent. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a report recently released by the Tax Foundation to identify the states where residents paid the most and least in state and local taxes as a percent of income.

The total tax burden an individual pays refers to the percentage of state residents’ income that goes to state and local taxes, and, on top of that, what each person must pay the federal government. The equation that puts all of those numbers together is complicated, and is among the reasons that the debate over federal taxes is so heated. People often end up with payments to several tax authorities. Their nominal federal tax rate may mean very little when it comes to what must be paid to all applicable government bodies at the end of each year. The amount that a person keeps from each dollar that he or she earns can be affected more by local government needs than those of the federal government.

Read on to see the states where residents pay the most and least in taxes.

(iStock Photo)

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10. Highest - Pe... Taxes paid by residents as pct. of income: 10.1 percent

Total state and local taxes collected: $109.7 billion

Pct. of total taxes paid by residents: 76.3 percent

Pct. of total taxes paid by non-residents: 23.7 percent

Pennsylvania has among the largest revenues in the country. The great majority of this money comes from its residents. Approximately one third of state tax revenue comes from individual income taxes. Another one half comes from various sales taxes. Pennsylvania also has the highest state corporate tax rate in the country. There are a number of ways the state could increase the amount of taxes it “exports” to non-residents, however. The state can further expand its burgeoning gambling industry. According to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, $81.4 million in tax revenue was generated by table games in the most recent fiscal year. The state could also pass a tax on natural-gas drilling, as it is currently the only state without one.

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9. Highest - Mai... Taxes paid by residents as pct. of income: 10.1 percent

Total state and local taxes collected: $10.7 billion

Pct. of total taxes paid by residents: 64.7 percent

Pct. of total taxes paid by non-residents: 35.3 percent

For a state with one of the highest tax burdens on its residents, Maine has a relatively large percent of its total tax revenue come from out-of-state residents and business, standing at more than 35 percent. Maine has the eighth lowest population and the tenth lowest tax revenue. The state has middle-of-the-road taxes for gasoline and alcohol, but at $2.00 per pack, it is tied with Michigan and Alaska for the 11th highest tobacco tax.

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8. Highest - Ver... Taxes paid by residents as pct. of income: 10.2 percent

Total state and local taxes collected: $6.1 billion

Pct. of total taxes paid by residents: 62.1 percent

Pct. of total taxes paid by non-residents: 37.9 percent

Vermont collects a relatively large percentage of its tax revenue from non-residents. The state has one of the largest shares of vacation homes in the country, and collects a major portion of its property tax revenue from these homes, effectively taxing residents of other states. Despite this, residents of Vermont have among the greatest tax burden in the country. A large reason for this is the state’s excise taxes, or taxes on the sale of goods and services. According to a recent report from the Mercatus Center titled, “Excise Taxes in the States,” Vermont collected the greatest amount in excise taxes per capita in 2010, $858. This includes taxes on things such as tobacco, alcohol, insurance, and motor fuels.

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7. Highest - Min... Taxes paid by residents as pct. of income: 10.3 percent

Total state and local taxes collected: $45.7 billion

Pct. of total taxes paid by residents: 75.5 percent

Pct. of total taxes paid by non-residents: 24.5 percent

Less than 25 percent of Minnesota’s tax revenue comes from non-residents and businesses. The state only collects average, or below average, rates on alcohol and tobacco, and has one of the smallest tourism economies in the country. This means the state relies heavily on income and property taxes from residents. Minnesota has the 21st largest population in the country, but it collects the 12th most in tax revenue each year. The state and local taxes collected per capita is the seventh highest in the country, as is the tax burden as a percent of income.

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6. Highest - Cal... Taxes paid by residents as pct. of income: 10.6 percent

Total state and local taxes collected: $354 billion

Pct. of total taxes paid by residents: 82.5 percent

Pct. of total taxes paid by non-residents: 17.5 percent

California is exceptional in many ways when it comes to taxing its residents. The state has the highest statewide sales tax in the country, currently 8.25 percent. It also has the highest tax on gas, charging 46.6 cents per gallon. The state collects among the lowest amount of taxes from non-residents and business out of all the states. But with the lowest credit rating in the nation, according to S&P, an ongoing budget problem, and a $10.8 billion deficit, one of the biggest in the country, the state may want to change its approach.

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5. Highest - Rho... Taxes paid by residents as pct. of income: 10.7 percent

Total state and local taxes collected: $9.4 billion

Pct. of total taxes paid by residents: 70.9 percent

Pct. of total taxes paid by non-residents: 29.1 percent

Rhode Island is one of the smallest states and has one of the smallest revenues. Despite this, residents’ tax burdens are among the highest. Each year, the average Rhode Islander pays $671 in state “sin taxes,” or taxes on things such as alcohol, tobacco, and gambling. This is the second highest amount in the country, behind only Delaware. Part of the reason for this is that the state taxes each pack of cigarettes $3.46, the second highest in the country. The state’s tax burden is hurting business as well. Rhode Island has an exceptionally high corporate tax rate of 9 percent and was recently rated as the worst state for business by CNBC.

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4. Highest - Wis... Taxes paid by residents as pct. of income: 11 percent

Total state and local taxes collected: $41.7 billion

Pct. of total taxes paid by residents: 77.9 percent

Pct. of total taxes paid by non-residents: 22.1 percent

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin relies more on income and property taxes for its revenue than most states. In fact, both are approximately 25 percent higher than the national averages. The state receives a smaller portion of federal money than most others, leaving little room for this money to offset state spending. Worst still, taxes on industrial property owners rank among the bottom half, and often the bottom third, of the country, while residential taxes are among the greatest. According to a study by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, Wisconsin’s middle class pays a bigger share of government spending than any other state, except for New York.

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3. Highest - Con... Taxes paid by residents as pct. of income: 12 percent

Total state and local taxes collected: $33.3 billion

Pct. of total taxes paid by residents: 80.1 percent

Pct. of total taxes paid by non-residents: 19.9 percent

The state with the highest per capita income in the country collects more than $5,000 per resident on average, the most in the country. It is the 30th most populous state in the U.S., but it collects the 19th most in tax revenue. Less than 20 percent of Connecticut’s tax revenue comes from non-residents and business. According to the Tax Foundation, the state ranks 47th in business environment, with a 7.5 percent tax on businesses. The state’s residents have a higher tax burden than all but two other states. Part of the reason for this has to do with the fact that the taxes Connecticut commuters pay to the empire state counts as part of the Connecticut tax burden.

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2. Highest - New... Taxes paid by residents as pct. of income: 12.1 percent

Total state and local taxes collected: $243.9 billion

Pct. of total taxes paid by residents: 71.4 percent

Pct. of total taxes paid by non-residents: 28.6 percent

New York places much of its tax burden on residents from other states. Consider, for example, the amount of state revenue derived from New York City tourism, or those who commute to the city for work. Despite this, state residents maintain the second largest tax burden in the country. The state has one of the highest state and local tax collections per capita, an average of $6,884. It has one of the highest combined averages local and state sales tax rates — 8.3 percent. The Big Apple also has a number of exceptionally high excise taxes, such as its $4.35 tax on each pack of cigarettes, the highest rate in the country. Additionally, the state has exceptionally high property tax rates. According to the Census Bureau, the top ten counties in the U.S. with the highest property taxes as a percentage of home values are all in New York.

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1. Highest - New... Taxes paid by residents as pct. of income: 12.2 percent

Total state and local taxes collected: $85.9 billion

Pct. of total taxes paid by residents: 79.5 percent

Pct. of total taxes paid by non-residents: 20.5 percent

New Jersey residents have a higher tax burden than those of any other state. As a percent of their income, taxes in the Garden State were 12. percent in 2009, nearly double that of Alaska. Like Connecticut, much of this tax burden comes from state residents who commute to New York City and pay taxes there as well. This illustrates how a state resident contributes to the tax base of multiple states. Although not reflected in the percent of income residents pay in state and local taxes, it is nonetheless an additional burden commuters have to bear. According to Tax Foundation, the state has the third-worst environment for business in the country, with a corporate tax rate of 9 percent. It also has an above-average sales tax, as well as one of the highest rates in the country for cigarettes and liquor.

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10. Lowest - New... Taxes paid by residents as pct. of income: 8.4 percent

Total state and local taxes collected: $16.9 billion

Pct. of total taxes paid by residents: 59 percent

Pct. of total taxes paid by non-residents: 41 percent

The state and local tax burden on New Mexico residents is the tenth lowest in the country. The state has a slightly below-average business climate, with a corporate tax rate ranging from 4.8 percent to 7.6 percent. Gasoline taxes are quite low, but excise taxes on alcohol and cigarettes are above average. The state tax on beer is one of the highest in the country. A high percentage of state and local revenues come from non-residents. This is usually the case with most states with a low tax burden on its residents. Per capita, state residents pay just $2,027, the sixth-lowest amount in the country.

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9. Lowest - Loui... Taxes paid by residents as pct. of income: 8.2 percent

Total state and local taxes collected: $44.2 billion

Pct. of total taxes paid by residents: 54 percent

Pct. of total taxes paid by non-residents: 46 percent

Despite having the fifth highest average state and local sales tax rate, residents of Louisiana have a relatively low tax burden. A leading reason for this is the simple fact that, on average, residents pay one of the smallest amounts of total state and local taxes in the country. According to the Tax Foundation, property taxes in the state are $565.23 per capita, the fifth lowest amount among states. Louisiana also collects $1.78 in federal spending for every dollar spent on federal taxes — the fourth highest ratio. This rate of federal spending helps offset the need for higher state revenue from taxes.

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8. Lowest - Sout... Taxes paid by residents as pct. of income: 8.1 percent

Total state and local taxes collected: $35.4 billion

Pct. of total taxes paid by residents: 66 percent

Pct. of total taxes paid by non-residents: 34 percent

Residents of South Carolina pay the second smallest total amount in state and local taxes per person in the country, behind only Mississippi. The average person in the state pays $2,742 in taxes. Excise taxes are extremely low: the state has the fifth lowest gasoline tax in the country and the ninth lowest cigarette tax. The state also has relatively low property taxes at both the state and local level.

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7. Lowest - New ... Taxes paid by residents as pct. of income: 8 percent

Total state and local taxes collected: $9.6 billion

Pct. of total taxes paid by residents: 56.4 percent

Pct. of total taxes paid by non-residents: 43.6 percent

New Hampshire “has no special revenue source from non-residents, but the citizens’ approval of limited government spending has kept the tax burden low,” according to the Tax Foundation, The state has a flat 5 percent income tax rate that only applies to dividend and interest income, but, effectively, no tax on wages, and as a result most residents don’t have to pay it. The state is also one of only five states that has no sales tax. This causes many people from outside of the state to travel to New Hampshire to purchase goods that are heavily taxed in their own states. Not all taxes in New Hampshire are low, however. The state has the third highest property tax rate in the country.

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6. Lowest - Texa... Taxes paid by residents as pct. of income: 7.9 percent

Total state and local taxes collected: $196.5 billion

Pct. of total taxes paid by residents: 63.4 percent

Pct. of total taxes paid by non-residents: 36.6 percent

The population of Texas is 30 percent larger than New York, but collects more than percent less in tax revenue than the Empire State. The tax burden on residents is the sixth lowest in the country, at just 7.9 percent of average income per resident. The biggest reason for this is that the state is one of just six in the country to levy no personal income tax. Texas also has the 11th lowest sales tax, at 7.39 percent, and average or below average rates on gasoline, cigarettes and alcohol.

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5. Lowest - Wyom... Taxes paid by residents as pct. of income: 7.8 percent

Total state and local taxes collected: $9.3 billion

Pct. of total taxes paid by residents: 29.9 percent

Pct. of total taxes paid by non-residents: 70.1 percent

Besides Alaska, Wyoming has the greatest percentage of its state revenue paid for by non-residents. This is because of taxes on oil and coal that bring money in from out-of-state oil and mineral companies. These taxes account for such a large percentage of Wyoming’s revenue that the state does without a corporate income tax. The state also has no individual income taxes. Wyoming has an average state and local sales tax rate of 5.38 percent, one of the lowest in the country.

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4. Lowest - Tenn... Taxes paid by residents as pct. of income: 7.6 percent

Total state and local taxes collected: $48 billion

Pct. of total taxes paid by residents: 63.7 percent

Pct. of total taxes paid by non-residents: 36.3 percent

Tennessee has the eleventh lowest per capita income in the country. Residents of the state pay just $1,851 in taxes, the second lowest amount in the U.S. The state’s business climate is average, but other taxes are relatively low. The sales tax of 7 percent is one of the highest in the country, but food purchases are exempt from all but 1.5 percent of that. Dividend and interest income is taxed in the state at a rate of 6 percent, but there is no other personal income tax levied. Tennessee collects no state-level property tax, one of just a few to do so.

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3. Lowest - Sout... Taxes paid by residents as pct. of income: 7.6 percent

Total state and local taxes collected: $5.2 billion

Pct. of total taxes paid by residents: 56 percent

Pct. of total taxes paid by non-residents: 44 percent

Since 1977, South Dakota’s tax burden has dropped from 9.1 percent to 7.6 percent, causing the state to change from the 15th least burdened state to the third least burdened. The state has no corporate or individual income tax. It is easier for South Dakota to keep a low tax burden than many other states, however. According to the most recent data available from the Tax Foundation, South Dakota receives $1.53 back for every dollar collected in federal taxes, lessening the state’s dependence on state and local revenue.

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2. Lowest - Neva... Taxes paid by residents as pct. of income: 7.5 percent

Total state and local taxes collected: $20 billion

Pct. of total taxes paid by residents: 52.5 percent

Pct. of total taxes paid by non-residents: 47.5 percent

Nevada has the second-lowest tax burden in the country, with residents paying just 7.5 percent of their income on state and local taxes. Nearly half of all state tax revenue comes from non-residents. According to the Tax Association’s State Business Tax Climate Index, Nevada has one of the most favorable environments for business, as it is one of the four states to levy no corporate tax at all. A significant amount of the state’s revenue comes from “sin taxes” on gambling, alcohol, and tobacco, most of which comes from tourists. Sales tax is above the national average, and the tax on gasoline is one of the highest in the country. Counties are also allowed to levy additional gas taxes on top of the state.

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1. Lowest - Alas... Taxes paid by residents as pct. of income: 6.3 percent

Total state and local taxes collected: $18.8 billion

Pct. of total taxes paid by residents: 20.5 percent

Pct. of total taxes paid by non-residents: 79.5 percent

Alaskans have the lowest tax burden of any state in the country, paying just 6.3 percent of their income in state and local taxes. This is over one full percentage point lower than the state with the second smallest tax burden. According to the Tax Foundation, “Before the Trans-Alaska pipeline was finished in 1977, taxpayers in Alaska bore the second-highest tax burden in the country. By 1980, with oil tax revenue pouring in, Alaska repealed its personal income tax and started sending out checks instead. The tax burden plummeted, and now Alaskans are the least taxed.” The state also levies no personal income tax or sales tax.

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