Note: Tax burden percentages combine state + local income, sales and property taxes as a share of personal income. Approximations from public sources for early 2026. Informational only — not tax advice.

Taxes·14 min read·April 8, 2026

Tax Burden by State 2026

Q: What is total tax burden by state?

Total tax burden by state combines state and local income tax, state and local sales tax, and effective property tax rate to express what residents actually pay as a percentage of personal income. It captures the real tax picture better than looking at any single tax in isolation, because some no-income-tax states compensate with higher property or sales taxes.

Q: Which state has the lowest total tax burden?

Alaska has the lowest total state and local tax burden at approximately 5.0% of personal income, partly because of resource revenue offsetting tax needs. Wyoming (~5.7%) and Tennessee (~6.5%) round out the lowest-burden states. New Hampshire's burden is also very low for high earners due to no income or sales tax. The best low-burden picks depend on your income mix — wage earners benefit most from no-income-tax states; renters benefit most from no-sales-tax states.

Q: Which state has the highest tax burden?

New York has the highest total tax burden at approximately 12.5% of personal income, driven by NYC's local income tax on top of the state's progressive brackets. Hawaii (~12.0%), Vermont (~10.3%), California (~10.4%) and Maine (~10.0%) follow. New Jersey, Connecticut and Maryland also rank in the top tier.

Q: Are no income tax states actually low tax?

It varies. Tennessee, Wyoming and Florida combine no income tax with reasonable property and sales taxes, achieving low total tax burden. Texas and New Hampshire compensate with very high property taxes, so total burden is closer to average. Washington has a very high sales tax and a 7% capital gains tax above $262K, so total burden is moderate. The 'no income tax' label alone doesn't tell the full tax story.

Q: How does tax burden affect take-home pay?

Tax burden directly affects how much of your gross income you actually keep. Moving from a top-burden state (NY at 12.5%) to a low-burden state (Tennessee at 6.5%) can save approximately 6 percentage points of total income — for a $100,000 earner, roughly $6,000 per year, growing with income. Use a paycheck calculator to see exact dollar impact for your specific situation.

A no income tax state isn't necessarily a low tax state. Total tax burden — combining state and local income, sales and property taxes — is the real measure of what you actually pay. Here's the complete 50-state ranking for 2026, including reality checks on the most popular relocation destinations.

Quick Summary

Lowest total tax burden: Alaska (5.0%), Wyoming (5.7%), Tennessee (6.5%), New Hampshire (6.4% high-earner), Florida (6.6%). Highest: New York (12.5%), Hawaii (12.0%), Vermont (10.3%), California (10.4%), Maine (10.0%). Note that 'no income tax' Texas (8.6%) is mid-pack due to high property tax, and Washington (8.5%) is similar due to high sales tax.

Lowest Burden

Alaska 5.0%

Resource revenue offsets

Highest Burden

NY 12.5%

NYC local tax adds

National Average

~9.0%

State and local combined

Best No-Tax Pick

Tennessee

6.5% total burden

See Your Real State Tax Impact

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Top 10 Lowest Tax Burden States

Total burden = state + local income + sales + property tax as % of personal income. Approximate for early 2026.
Rank	State	Total Burden %	Income Tax	Sales Tax	Property Tax
1	Alaska	~5.0%	0%	1.8% combined	1.04%
2	Wyoming	~5.7%	0%	5.5% combined	0.55%
3	Tennessee	~6.5%	0%	9.55% combined	0.67%
4	New Hampshire	~6.4%	0% wages	0%	1.93%
5	Florida	~6.6%	0%	7.02% combined	0.86%
6	South Dakota	~7.4%	0%	6.4% combined	1.17%
7	Nevada	~7.7%	0%	8.38% combined	0.55%
8	Delaware	~7.8%	2.2%–6.6%	0%	0.55%
9	Alabama	~8.0%	2%–5%	9.24% combined	0.39%
10	Texas	~8.6%	0%	8.20% combined	1.68%

Top 10 Highest Tax Burden States

Approximate total burden for early 2026.
Rank	State	Total Burden %	Income Tax (Top)	Notes
1	New York	~12.5%	10.9%	NYC local tax adds
2	Hawaii	~12.0%	11.0%	High income tax + sales
3	California	~10.4%	13.3%	Highest state income tax
4	Vermont	~10.3%	8.75%	High property + income
5	Maine	~10.0%	7.15%	Above-average all categories
6	New Jersey	~9.8%	10.75%	Highest property tax
7	Connecticut	~9.7%	6.99%	High property + income
8	Maryland	~9.6%	5.75% + local 2.83%	Local income tax
9	Minnesota	~9.6%	9.85%	High top bracket
10	Illinois	~9.5%	4.95% flat	Driven by high property tax

No-Income-Tax States: Reality Check

The nine no-income-tax states have very different total tax pictures. Here's how they actually rank by total burden:

Same 'no income tax' headline can hide very different total tax pictures.
State	Total Burden	Why
Alaska	5.0%	Resource revenue + low taxes
Wyoming	5.7%	Low everything
Tennessee	6.5%	High sales, low property
New Hampshire	6.4%	0% income/sales, very high property
Florida	6.6%	Moderate sales + property
South Dakota	7.4%	Low sales, moderate property
Nevada	7.7%	High sales, low property
Texas	8.6%	Very high property tax
Washington	8.5%	Very high sales + 7% LTCG above $262K

For more context, see our no income tax states guide and states with lowest property taxes.

Calculate Your Real Tax Picture

See your effective rate and take-home pay in any state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is total tax burden by state?

Total tax burden combines state and local income, sales and property taxes as a percentage of personal income. It captures the real tax picture better than any single tax — some no-income-tax states compensate with higher property or sales taxes.

Which state has the lowest total tax burden?

Alaska at ~5.0% (resource revenue offsets). Wyoming (5.7%), Tennessee (6.5%), New Hampshire (6.4% for high earners) and Florida (6.6%) round out the lowest. Best low-burden picks depend on your income mix — wage earners benefit most from no-income-tax states; renters from no-sales-tax states.

Which state has the highest tax burden?

New York at ~12.5% (NYC local income tax adds to state brackets). Hawaii (12.0%), Vermont (10.3%), California (10.4%) and Maine (10.0%) follow. NJ, CT and MD also in the top tier.

Are no income tax states actually low tax?

Varies. Tennessee, Wyoming and Florida combine no income tax with reasonable property/sales = low total burden. Texas and NH compensate with very high property tax. Washington has high sales tax + 7% LTCG above $262K. The 'no income tax' label alone doesn't tell the full story.

How does tax burden affect take-home pay?

Directly. Moving from a top-burden state (NY 12.5%) to a low-burden state (Tennessee 6.5%) saves ~6 percentage points of total income — for a $100,000 earner, roughly $6,000 per year, growing with income.

⚠️ Important: We do NOT collect or store any data you enter. All calculations happen 100% in your browser. Tax calculations use 2026 IRS tax tables (IRS Publication 15-T) and current state tax rates. Cost of living estimates are based on 2026 average market data. This is a free educational tool to help you understand your finances—it is NOT a financial service. Results are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute professional tax, financial, or legal advice. If you notice any discrepancies, please contact us so we can improve. Consult a qualified CPA or financial advisor for personalized guidance.

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