DIY Builds
Photo by Maryia Plashchynskaya Pexels Logo Photo: Maryia Plashchynskaya

What is the most tax free state?

Eight states have no personal income tax, including Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. ... The top 10 highest income tax states (or legal jurisdictions) for 2021 are: Oregon 9.9% Minnesota 9.85% District of Columbia 8.95% New York 8.82% Vermont 8.75% Iowa 8.53% Wisconsin 7.65% More items... •

Is Georgia tiny house friendly?
Is Georgia tiny house friendly?

Georgia is a perfect state to move into an environmentally friendly tiny home. Some areas of Georgia are especially accommodating to the tiny...

Read More »
How much should a roof slope?
How much should a roof slope?

Understanding the Minimum Roof Pitch International building code guidelines recommend a minimum roof pitch of 1/4:12. This means that for every 12...

Read More »
Can I build my own shed?
Can I build my own shed?

Yes, with the right plans you can build your dream shed.

Learn More »

OVERVIEW

Where you live can help or hinder your ability to make ends meet. A myriad of taxes—property, license, state and local sales, property, inheritance, estate and excise taxes on gasoline—eat away at your disposable income. Weighing the tax landscape against your financial picture lets you stretch your dollars. Here's a roundup of the highest and lowest taxes by state. Key Takeaways • The states with the highest income tax for 2021 include California 13.3%, Hawaii 11%, New Jersey 10.75%, Oregon 9.9%, and Minnesota 9.85%. • Eight states have no personal income tax, including Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. • The states with the highest total sales taxes include Tennessee 9.55%, Louisiana 9.52%, Arkansas 9.51%, Washington 9.23%, and Alabama 9.22%. • The states with the lowest total sales taxes are Alaska 1.76%, Oregon 0%, Delaware 0%, Montana 0%, and New Hampshire 0%. "Location, location, location" is a focus that applies to more than just housing. Where you live can help or hinder your ability to make ends meet. A myriad of taxes — such as property, license, state and local sales, inheritance, estate, and excise taxes — can eat away at your income. Often, the biggest tax ticket citizens face after paying the Internal Revenue Service is the one their state presents. As a result, identifying the states with the lowest taxes might be a smart financial move to make. Currently, 41 states and the District of Columbia levy a personal income tax. Weighing the tax landscape against your financial picture could help you stretch your dollars further.

10 states with the highest personal income tax rates

A comparison of 2020 tax rates compiled by the Tax Foundation ranks California as the top taxer with a 12.3% rate, unless you make more than $1 million. Then, you have to pay 13.3% as the top rate. The additional tax on income earned above $1 million is the state's 1% mental health services tax. The top 10 highest income tax states (or legal jurisdictions) for 2021 are: California 13.3% Hawaii 11% New Jersey 10.75% Oregon 9.9% Minnesota 9.85% District of Columbia 8.95% New York 8.82% Vermont 8.75% Iowa 8.53% Wisconsin 7.65% Each of these states has a personal income tax floor, deductions, exemptions, credits, and varying definitions of taxable income that determine what a citizen actually pays.

10 states with the lowest personal income tax rates

How long does 4 inches of concrete take to cure?
How long does 4 inches of concrete take to cure?

How long does four to six inches of concrete take to cure? As stated previously, concrete takes approximately 26-30 days to reach its full...

Read More »
Can I insulate my shed?
Can I insulate my shed?

Insulating a shed floor will always reduce the internal height of the shed as you must layer insulating products above the already existing floor....

Read More »
Are shed plans easy to follow?
Are shed plans easy to follow?

These are! They guide you every step of the way to complete your dream shed.

Learn More »

Only eight states have no personal income tax:

Wyoming

Washington

Texas

Tennessee

South Dakota

Nevada

Florida

Alaska

In addition, New Hampshire limits its tax to interest and dividend income, not income from wages. Among the states that tax income, Pennsylvania's 3.07% flat tax ranks the Keystone State as the 10th lowest in the nation for 2021. Low personal income tax rates can be misleading; a lack of available tax deductions, for example, can raise the effective rate you pay. The Retirement Living Information Center states that figuring your total tax burden, including sales and property taxes, can give you a more accurate reading on affordability, especially if you're on a fixed income. However, these states with the lowest taxes on income can be a good place to start looking for a more affordable location. TurboTax Tip: Personal income tax rates do not tell the whole state tax story. The states vary in their personal income tax floors, deductions, exemptions, credits, and definitions of taxable income. Sales and property taxes also affect the state’s affordability.

States with the highest and lowest property taxes

Property tax falls under local, not state, jurisdiction. Median household property tax payments from analysis performed by the Tax Foundation — as a percentage of median household income from the Census Bureau's 2018 American Community Survey — cites these as the counties with the most expensive property tax:

Essex County, New Jersey 16.86%

Passaic County, New Jersey 14.62%

Union County, New Jersey 12.70%

These Louisiana parishes hold the least expensive spots for property tax as a percent of income:

Assumption Parish 0%

Vernon Parish 0.45%

Grant Parish 0.68%

Louisiana carries some of the lowest property tax rates as a percentage of earned income because it offers a homestead exemption. This law allows the first $7,500 of assessed property values to forego having property taxes levied against them. For reference, assessed home values represent 1/10 of the home's actual value. For example, a $100,000 home would have a $10,000 assessed value. Therefore, Louisiana's homestead exemption allows the first $75,000 of home value not to count toward calculating your property tax bill, which goes a long way toward lowering the percentage of income that goes toward these taxes.

Sales tax takers and leavers

If you're a consumer, you'll want to consider that all but four states — Oregon, New Hampshire, Montana and Delaware — rely on sales tax for revenue.

Can I put a toilet in my shed UK?
Can I put a toilet in my shed UK?

Yes, a toilet can be installed in a garden room, so long as it meets building regulations approval. While building regulations are not common for a...

Read More »
How do I get rid of rats permanently?
How do I get rid of rats permanently?

How do you get rid of rats in the home? Seal any gaps. "Rats can get into your home through exterior gaps and holes, so seal them with wire wool,...

Read More »

Of these, Alaska also has no income tax, thanks to the severance tax it levies on oil and natural gas production. 37 states, including Alaska and Montana, allow local municipalities to impose a sales tax, which can add up. Lake Providence, Louisiana has the dubious distinction of most expensive sales tax city in the country in 2021, with a combined state and city rate of 11.45%. Factoring the combination of state and average local sales tax, the top five highest total sales tax states as ranked by the Tax Foundation for 2021 are:

Tennessee 9.55%

Louisiana 9.52%

Arkansas 9.51%

Washington 9.23%

Alabama 9.22%

Residents of these states pay the least in sales taxes overall:

Alaska 1.76%

Oregon 0%

Delaware 0%

Montana 0%

New Hampshire 0%

Combined sales and income tax leaders

The Tax Foundation interprets individual tax burden by what taxpayers actually spend in local and state taxes, rather than report these expenses from the state revenue perspective used by the Census Bureau. Its 2019 State and Local Tax Burden Rankings study reported that Americans paid an average rate of 9.9% in state and local taxes. According to the foundation, the top five states with the highest state and local tax combinations are:

New York 12.7%

Connecticut 12.6%

New Jersey 12.2%

Illinois 11.0%

California and Wisconsin 11.0%

The same states have ranked as the top three consistently since 2005, according to the foundation. Although taxes may not be the first thing you consider when deciding where to live, knowing the tax situations of the locations you're considering for a move could help you save in the long-run, especially when retiring. Let an expert do your taxes for you, start to finish with TurboTax Live Full Service. Or you can get your taxes done right, with experts by your side with TurboTax Live Assisted. File your own taxes with confidence using TurboTax. Just answer simple questions, and we’ll guide you through filing your taxes with confidence. Whichever way you choose, get your maximum refund guaranteed.

How long does it take for solar panels to pay for themselves?
How long does it take for solar panels to pay for themselves?

six to ten years The most common estimate of the average payback period for solar panels is six to ten years. This is a pretty wide range because...

Read More »
What do you put on a shed floor?
What do you put on a shed floor?

Concrete, plywood, and OSB boards are common options for shed flooring, and the thickness needed for each depends on what you will be using them...

Read More »
What is the slope of a wheelchair ramp?
What is the slope of a wheelchair ramp?

Maximum slope for hand-propelled wheelchair ramps should be 1" of rise to every 12" of length (4.8 degree angle; 8.3% grade). Maximum slope for...

Read More »
How do I setup a home office without an extra room?
How do I setup a home office without an extra room?

8 Ways to Create a Home Office Without a Spare Room A Dining Table Isn't Just for Eating. ... Think About Converting Your Closet. ... Look to the...

Read More »