State Tax Comparison: the Full Tax Picture

States with no income tax

Nine states impose no individual income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wyoming. New Hampshire and Washington tax only certain investment or capital gains income, not wages. For high earners, relocating to a no-income-tax state can save tens of thousands of dollars annually.

However, no-income-tax states often compensate with higher sales taxes, property taxes, or fees. Texas, for example, has no income tax but one of the highest effective property tax rates in the country. Washington relies heavily on its sales tax, which at 6.5% (before local additions) impacts lower-income residents disproportionately.

Flat tax vs. progressive state systems

Among states that do tax income, the structures vary widely. Some use a flat rate: Illinois charges a flat 4.95%, while Colorado uses a flat 4.4%. Others use progressive brackets similar to the federal system. California tops the scale with a marginal rate reaching 13.3% on income above $1 million, the highest state income tax rate in the nation.

Flat taxes are simpler to calculate and administer, but progressive systems aim to distribute the burden based on ability to pay. From a planning perspective, flat-tax states offer predictability, while progressive states may reward income-deferral strategies.

The SALT deduction and federal interaction

State and local tax (SALT) deductions allow federal taxpayers to deduct state income, property, and sales taxes from their federal taxable income. However, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 capped this deduction at $10,000 ($5,000 for married filing separately), significantly impacting residents of high-tax states like New York, New Jersey, and California.

For taxpayers in states with high income and property taxes, the SALT cap means state taxes effectively cost more on an after-federal-tax basis. This interaction between federal and state tax policy is one of the most important factors in evaluating total tax burden.

Read our detailed guide on the SALT deduction cap for strategies to manage this limitation.

Total tax burden: looking beyond income tax

Comparing states by income tax alone is misleading. A complete picture requires evaluating income tax, sales tax, property tax, excise taxes, and various fees. According to the Tax Foundation, the states with the highest combined state and local tax burden include New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey, while Alaska, Wyoming, and Tennessee rank among the lowest.

Retirees face different calculations because Social Security benefits and pension income are taxed differently across states. Some states fully exempt Social Security, while others tax it partially or fully. These distinctions make state tax comparison particularly important for retirement planning.