Let's be honest, nobody looks forward to doing their taxes. But as Americans, it is a responsibility that, in theory, all of us share. And for the average American household that means paying more than $8,800 a year in federal income tax, according to a recent report from personal finance website WalletHub. But not all tax burdens are created equal, and that is especially true when it comes to taxes at the local level, which can vary significantly from one state to another. With tax season looming over our heads, we consulted the WalletHub report to see which state pays the highest taxes in America.
Read on to discover how much the median U.S. household* in each state pays in state local taxes every year—ranked here from the lowest amount to the highest. And for how the pandemic may affect your finance filings, check out If You're Waiting on a Stimulus Check, Read This Before Filing Your Taxes.
*According to WalletHub: A “median U.S. household” is assumed to have an annual income of $63,218 (mean third quintile U.S. income); owns a home valued at $217,500 (median U.S. home value); owns a car valued at $24,970 (the highest-selling car of 2020); and spends annually an amount equal to the spending of a household earning the median U.S. income.
50 | Alaska
iStockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $3,694
49 | Delaware
ShutterstockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $3,949
48 | Montana
iStockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $4,494
47 | Nevada
iStockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $5,017
46 | Wyoming
iStockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $5,086
45 | Florida
Allison Michael / ShutterstockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $5,204
And for more tax-related news you should know, check out If You Get an Email From the IRS With These 3 Words, Don't Click on It.
44 | Utah
ShutterstockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $5,274
43 | Idaho
ShutterstockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $5,329
42 | Colorado
ShutterstockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $5,396
41 | Tennessee
Sean Pavone / ShutterstockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $5,513
40 | California
iStockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $5,662
And for the place where things are the least pricey in general, This Is the Cheapest State in America.
39 | South Carolina
ShutterstockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $5,683
38 | Oregon
ShutterstockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $5,686
37 | Alabama
ShutterstockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $5,754
36 | Arizona
ShutterstockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $6,021
35 | West Virginia
ShutterstockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $6,124
34 | North Dakota
ShutterstockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $6,343
33 | New Hampshire
iStockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $6,358
32 | New Mexico
ShutterstockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $6,663
31 | Georgia
Sean Pavone / ShutterstockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $6,683
30 | North Carolina
ShutterstockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $6,710
29 | Louisiana
ShutterstockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $6,723
28 | Hawaii
iStockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $6,736
27 | Virginia
ShutterstockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $6,783
26 | Massachusetts
ShutterstockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $6,890
25 | South Dakota
iStockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $7,055
24 | Missouri
ShutterstockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $7,111
23 | Minnesota
ShutterstockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $7,128
22 | Arkansas
ShutterstockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $7,134
21 | Oklahoma
ShutterstockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $7,235
20 | Maryland
ShutterstockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $7,261
19 | Vermont
iStockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $7,347
18 | Indiana
ShutterstockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $7,430
17 | Maine
ShutterstockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $7,465
16 | Mississippi
ShutterstockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $7,569
15 | Washington
ShutterstockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $7,601
14 | Michigan
iStockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $7,728
13 | Kentucky
iStockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $7,887
12 | Texas
iStockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $8,083
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11 | Rhode Island
ShutterstockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $8,103
10 | New Jersey
iStockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $8,117
9 | Ohio
ShutterstockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $8,329
8 | Iowa
ShutterstockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $8,334
7 | Wisconsin
iStockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $8,357
6 | Nebraska
ShutterstockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $8,386
5 | Kansas
iStockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $8,488
4 | Pennsylvania
ShutterstockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $8,830
3 | New York
ShutterstockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $8,900
2 | Connecticut
ShutterstockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $9,379
1 | Illinois
ShutterstockAnnual taxes on median U.S. household: $9,488
And if you live in a high-tax state you might be envious of those that don't, so make sure to check out This Is the Most Jealous State in America.
