Do you live somewhere ‘tax friendly’? Map shows every state’s grade (2024)

FAQs

Are local taxes based on where you live? ›

Income tax - The amount of state and local income tax you pay will depend on how much income you earn and the tax rate of the state or locality where you live.

According to the updated MoneyGeek analysis, the most “tax friendly” state overall was Nevada, where the median family owes about 3% of its income in taxes. Meanwhile, 13 states earned either a D or F grade for tax burdens. For some of those states, like Oregon, high personal income tax rates are to blame.

Your physical presence in a state plays an important role in determining your residency status. Usually, spending over half a year, or more than 183 days, in a particular state will render you a statutory resident and could make you liable for taxes in that state.

Taxpayers in all 50 states and the District of Columbia pay property taxes, but the tax on real property is primarily levied by local governments (cities, counties, and school districts) rather than state governments. With a few exceptions, states typically levy taxes on personal property.

As of 2023, Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming are the only states that do not levy a state income tax.

The most affordable U.S. state overall is Utah, in which the cost of living makes up 63.3% of average residents' income. Coming in second place is Tennessee, in which the cost of living makes up 63.7% of average income. Meanwhile, Arizona comes in third place, with cost of living making up 64.1% of average income.

You can be a resident of two states at the same time, usually by maintaining a domicile in one state and spending 183 days or more in another. It is not advisable, as you will be liable to file income taxes in both states, rather than in only one.

What states are best to avoid taxes? ›

States without income taxes may save you a lot of money when it's time to file taxes, but there may be hidden costs of living in such states, like higher sales and property taxes. Before moving, it's important to consider the full picture to better understand the potential impact on your finances.

Hawaii. Hawaii has the lowest property tax rate in the U.S. at 0.29%. The Aloha state has a home median value of $662,100.

1. Bridgeport, Connecticut. As one of the wealthiest cities in America, Bridgeport carries the highest overall tax rate in the nation. Wealthy taxpayers earning over $150,000 per year are on the hook for up to 22% in state and local taxes.

In 2020, the average American contributed 8.9% percent of their income in state taxes. Alaska had the lowest average overall tax burden – measured as total individual taxes paid divided by total personal income – at 5.4%, followed by Tennessee (6.3%), New Hampshire (6.4%), Wyoming (6.6%) and Florida (6.7%).

Local income tax is usually based on where a taxpayer lives, but in some cases, taxpayers also owe local income tax based on where they perform work (for example, if they commute). You may have withholding obligations based on where your company does business or based on where your employees perform work.

State residency is a key factor in determining tax obligations. Most states define residency based on the amount of time spent within their borders. Generally, if you spend a certain number of days within a state, you may be considered a resident for tax purposes.

While most local income taxes are low (typically 1 to 3 percent), they often have broad bases and are difficult to avoid. State and local officials should ensure that these taxes do not discourage economic development or drive out mobile workers or businesses.