What city in the U.S. has the highest taxes?
States may grant local governments the authority to impose additional general or selective sales taxes. As of 2017, 5 states (Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon) do not levy a statewide sales tax. California has the highest base sales tax rate, 7.25%.
- Tacoma, Washington (10.3%)
- Chicago, Illinois (10.25%)
- Fremont, California (10.25%)
- Long Beach, California (10.25%
- Oakland, California (10.25%)
- Seattle, Washington (10.25%)
States may grant local governments the authority to impose additional general or selective sales taxes. As of 2017, 5 states (Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon) do not levy a statewide sales tax. California has the highest base sales tax rate, 7.25%.
- Anchorage, Alaska. The crown of Lowest Taxes in America goes to the northernmost city in our study. ...
- Tampa, Florida. ...
- Jacksonville, Florida. ...
- Henderson, Nevada. ...
- Honolulu, Hawaii. ...
- Seattle, Washington. ...
- Colorado Springs, CO. ...
- Las Vegas, Nevada.
1. New Jersey. New Jersey earns the top spot as highest property taxes not only in property tax rate, which is over the 2% mark, but in the actual dollars spent in property taxes; here the average home value is the highest on the list.
- Philadelphia, PA. ...
- Louisville, KY. ...
- Chicago, IL. ...
- Milwaukee, WI. ...
- Baltimore, MD. Total estimated tax percentage: 14.1% ...
- Newark, NJ. Total estimated tax percentage: 15.3% ...
- Bridgeport, CT. Total estimated tax percentage: 15.6% ...
- Detroit, MI. Total estimated tax percentage: 16.0%
1. Alaska. Alaska is the most tax-friendly state for retirees because it has no state income tax or tax on Social Security.
- Alaska.
- Florida.
- Nevada.
- South Dakota.
- Tennessee.
- Texas.
- Wyoming.
The following five states currently have no statewide sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon. We take a closer look at those states in this guide.
Which Are the Tax-Free States? 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. Note that Washington does levy a state capital gains tax on certain high earners.
Where is the best place to live for taxes?
Alaska ranks first for states with the lowest taxes, with a tax burden of 4.60%, Wyoming follows closely behind at 7.50%, Tennessee at 7.60%, South Dakota at 8.40%, Michigan and Texas tie at 8.60%, North Dakota at 8.80%, Georgia and South Carolina tie at 8.90%, and Oklahoma rounds out the top ten states with the best ...
MoneyGeek's analysis found that Wyoming is the most tax-friendly state in America, followed by Nevada, Tennessee, Florida and Alaska. States that received a grade of A all share something in common: no state income tax. Washington and South Dakota — which both received a B — also have no state income tax.
![What city in the U.S. has the highest taxes? (2024)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YUMRTatZt0A/hq720.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEcCNAFEJQDSFXyq4qpAw4IARUAAIhCGAFwAcABBg==&rs=AOn4CLCCxYm8_6pvZegBYTEMRDTvGb2Mmw)
Hong Kong, Luxembourg, and Sydney might be your best bets, depending on your current stage of life. Those three places were named the most tax-efficient locations for the quality of life they offer, according to Knight Frank's Global Lifestyle Review 2016 released Monday.
Texas' high property taxes
More than almost any other state in the country, Texas relies on local property taxes to pay for government services like public schools, police departments and road maintenance.
When cities and towns face dangerously high pension costs, they are forced to raise property taxes to cover shortfalls. So, residents pay more in taxes towards past government services and see fewer benefits from current government services for their money.
According to the Tax Foundation, Florida ranks No. 26 when it comes to property taxes paid as a percentage of housing value, with an effective property tax rate of 0.91%. But remember, not everyone in Florida has the same property tax rate.
1. South Carolina. With its warm climate, low cost of living, and influx of retirees, South Carolina is the best state to retire in. Based on core retiree expenses of groceries and transportation, we calculate that South Carolina is 4.7% cheaper than the national average.
Researchers at the personal finance publication ranked the 50 states based on scores in five categories: affordability, economy, education and health, quality of life, and safety. Massachusetts topped 2023's list, scoring 61 out of 100. New Jersey came in second.
The state with the lowest cost of living index is Mississippi, with a score of 85. Other states with relatively high costs of living include California, New York, and Massachusetts. On the other hand, states with lower costs of living include Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Kansas.
1. Ivory Coast. The country with beach resorts, rainforests, and a French-colonial legacy levies a massive 60% personal income tax – the highest in the world.
Why is Oregon tax free?
Oregonians have had many opportunities to vote to have a sales tax, but except for very special forms of sales tax, always voted against them. Many of the things that in other states would be paid for by a sales tax are paid for by personal income tax and property tax.
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%).
There is no sales tax on any vehicle purchased in Oregon. If you are buying a car in another state, make sure the dealer fills out paperwork for Oregon residents so that you do not have to pay sales tax.
As the sales begin to rev up for 2023, Apple has listed the products that qualify for tax-free status on its website. Six states are listed—Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Missouri, Tennessee and West Virginia. It's unclear if the company will offer online tax savings for other states that observe tax-free holidays.
Delaware has no sales tax, which makes buying an iPhone in the nation's first state cheaper than it is in others. The Christiana Mall is also situated just off of I-95, the main highway connecting the East Coast states.
References
- https://patch.com/new-jersey/montclair/highest-nj-property-taxes-see-where-your-town-ranks-new-list
- https://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-apple-store-delaware-iphone-sales-20131114-story.html
- https://www.nj.gov/treasury/taxation/njit6.shtml
- https://www.linkedin.com/news/story/nj-has-the-highest-property-taxes-6433586/
- https://www.nj.gov/treasury/taxation/ptr/
- https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/fun-facts/states-with-the-highest-and-lowest-taxes/L6HPAVqSF
- https://henderson-cad.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Exemptions-Brochure.pdf
- https://www.nj.com/politics/2024/02/nj-property-taxes-break-another-record-will-you-pay-more-than-10k-in-2024-some-already-are.html
- https://money.com/states-highest-lowest-no-sales-tax/
- https://smartasset.com/taxes/lowest-property-tax-states
- https://www.njspotlightnews.org/2024/02/average-annual-nj-property-tax-bill-near-10000-highest-annual-growth-rate-in-decade/
- https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/property-tax/basics.php
- https://www.revenue.pa.gov/TaxTypes/SUT/Pages/default.aspx
- https://realting.com/news/countries-with-no-property-taxes
- https://revenue-pa.custhelp.com/app/answers/list/search/1/kw/out%20of%20state%20sales%20tax/suggested/1
- https://www.revenue.pa.gov/TaxTypes/SUT/UseTax/Pages/default.aspx
- https://www.nj.gov/governor/news/news/562023/20231204a.shtml
- https://www.app.com/story/news/local/new-jersey/2024/02/23/new-jersey-highest-property-tax-rates-rates-by-town-monmouth-ocean/72714141007/
- https://www.njspotlightnews.org/2024/02/map-2023-nj-property-tax-increases-varied-widely-depending-location/
- https://nj.gov/treasury/taxation/ptr/ptr2year.shtml
- https://patch.com/new-jersey/across-nj/20-towns-highest-lowest-tax-bills-nj
- https://www.illinoispolicy.org/illinois-families-pay-highest-state-local-taxes-in-nation/
- https://www.marketwatch.com/guides/moving-services/moving-statistics/
- https://www.sdarcc.gov/content/arcc/home/divisions/assessor/property-tax-savings/senior-disabled-exclusion.html
- https://www.cbpp.org/blog/1-in-5-states-slashed-income-tax-rates-in-2023-deepening-already-worrisome-trend
- https://www.investopedia.com/how-to-calculate-sales-tax-7113366
- https://quaderno.io/guides/pennsylvania-sales-tax-guide/
- https://wisevoter.com/state-rankings/cost-of-living-by-state/
- https://www.fortleenj.org/274/New-Jersey-Property-Tax-Relief-Programs
- https://states.aarp.org/florida/state-taxes-guide
- https://taxfoundation.org/location/pennsylvania/
- https://www.nj.com/politics/2023/04/looking-for-property-tax-bargains-in-nj-these-30-towns-have-the-lowest-tax-rates.html
- https://www.phila.gov/services/payments-assistance-taxes/payment-plans-and-assistance-programs/income-based-programs-for-residents/apply-for-the-low-income-senior-citizen-real-estate-tax-freeze/
- https://www.chamberofcommerce.org/us-cities-pay-most-taxes
- https://www.taxjar.com/blog/is-food-taxable-in-pennsylvania
- https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/auditor-controller-treasurer-tax-collector/divisions/revenue-accounting/exemptions-and-assistance-programs/school-parcel-tax-exemptions
- http://www.staffordtxedc.com/business-environment/tax-structure/
- https://fox2now.com/business/press-releases/ein-presswire/622463582/the-10-us-cities-with-the-highest-and-lowest-property-tax-rates-in-the-country
- https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/best-and-worst-states-for-retirement/
- https://certsimpleusa.com/blog/when-do-you-start-paying-property-taxes-new-home-texas/
- https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/property-tax/
- https://www.dot.state.pa.us/public/dvspubsforms/bmv/bmv%20fact%20sheets/fs-buysell.pdf
- https://www.accuratetax.com/blog/clothing-tax/
- https://www.eastbrunswick.org/DocumentCenter/View/3705/How-Property-is-Assessed-PDF
- https://patch.com/new-jersey/montclair/essex-county-homeowners-pay-highest-property-taxes-new-jersey
- https://fortune.com/2023/07/19/apple-sales-tax-free-holiday-back-to-school/
- https://wisevoter.com/state-rankings/property-taxes-by-state/
- https://www.mansionglobal.com/articles/where-to-live-well-and-save-on-taxes-around-the-world-32898
- https://www.nj.gov/treasury/taxation/lpt/lpt-seniordeduction.shtml
- https://www.kiplinger.com/taxes/state-tax/603200/states-with-the-highest-sales-taxes
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/think-texas-cheaper-tax-burden-161359267.html
- https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/16/us-states-where-property-taxes-are-highestnew-jersey-is-no-1.html
- https://yourhometownmover.com/the-impact-of-high-property-taxes-on-upstate-new-yorks-economy/
- https://www.njcourts.gov/self-help/tax-court
- https://www.app.com/story/news/investigations/watchdog/taxes/2023/06/06/high-property-tax-bills-nj-millburn-dearest-tenafly-rumson-glen-ridge/70270715007/
- https://www.quora.com/Why-doesn-t-Oregon-have-a-sales-tax
- https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/What-Is-the-Average-150K-Salary-by-State
- https://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0210/7-states-with-no-income-tax.aspx
- https://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/worse-states-with-financial-health
- https://www.foxroach.com/blog/lowering-property-taxes-nj/
- https://www.thebalancemoney.com/states-with-highest-estate-inheritance-taxes-4150633
- https://whyy.org/articles/cumberland-county-new-jersey-homelessness-solutions/
- https://alleghenycountytreasurer.us/real-estate-tax/real-estate-tax-2/
- https://www.urban.org/policy-centers/cross-center-initiatives/state-and-local-finance-initiative/state-and-local-backgrounders/estate-and-inheritance-taxes
- https://www.ramseysolutions.com/taxes/florida-property-tax
- https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/best-places-to-live-in-the-us
- https://www.ramseysolutions.com/real-estate/cheapest-states-to-live-in
- https://wisevoter.com/state-rankings/states-with-lowest-taxes/
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/income-tax-calculator/pennsylvania/
- https://taxfoundation.org/location/new-jersey/
- https://money.com/social-security-tax-states/
- https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-02523
- https://www.nj.gov/treasury/taxation/questions/senior-freeze.shtml
- https://www.njspotlightnews.org/video/move-to-lift-cap-on-property-taxes-amid-school-funding-pressures/
- https://www.salestaxhelper.com/resources/state-sales-tax-guides/pennsylvania/
- https://money.com/cities-highest-sales-tax-milwaukee/
- https://ktvz.com/stacker-money/2023/10/26/homeowners-in-these-10-cities-pay-the-highest-property-tax-relative-to-their-homes-value-and-theyre-not-in-california/
- https://www.country-classics.com/home-builders-blog-new-jersey/new-jersey-vs-pennsylvania-real-estate-tax-who-wins
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/taxes/states-with-no-income-tax/
- https://todayshomeowner.com/home-finances/guides/high-property-taxes-ranking-each-state-2022/
- https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/cheapest-states-to-live-in-united-states-1701432063-1
- https://belonghome.com/blog/property-taxes-by-state
- https://www.landlordstudio.com/blog/states-without-property-tax-best-to-worst
- https://www.texastribune.org/2023/01/31/texas-property-tax-legislature/
- https://www.policygenius.com/auto-insurance/auto-tax-rate-by-state/
- https://www.niche.com/places-to-live/search/counties-with-the-lowest-cost-of-living/s/new-jersey/
- https://smartasset.com/financial-advisor/states-with-no-sales-tax
- https://njbiz.com/nj-property-taxes-approaching-10k-average/
- https://www.revenue.pa.gov/TaxTypes/SUT/UseTax/Pages/Use%20Tax%20for%20Individuals.aspx
- https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2023/11/01/best-state-to-live-in-2023/71395336007/
- https://www.moneygeek.com/financial-planning/resources/tax-friendly-state/
- https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/surprising-data-reveals-the-top-25-tax-friendly-states-to-retire
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/pennsylvania/61-Pa-Code-SS-53-2
- https://www.doj.state.or.us/consumer-protection/motor-vehicles/buying-a-vehicle/
- https://taxfoundation.org/data/all/state/sales-tax-rates-by-city-2021/
- https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/articles/states-with-the-lowest-taxes
- https://www.silive.com/news/2023/02/new-york-state-ranks-7th-in-us-for-highest-real-estate-property-taxes.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sales_taxes_in_the_United_States
- https://smartasset.com/taxes/lowest-taxes-in-america
- https://nj1015.com/these-71-towns-in-nj-cut-property-taxes-as-seniors-wait-for-more-relief/
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/states-highest-property-taxes-230003864.html
- https://www.bankrate.com/taxes/state-with-no-income-tax-better-or-worse/
- https://moneywise.com/retirement/best-states-to-retire-in
- https://lauraclery.com/why-are-houses-in-texas-so-cheap/
- https://nomadcapitalist.com/finance/countries-with-the-highest-tax-rates/
- https://www.travelandleisure.com/most-beautiful-and-affordable-places-to-live-in-the-us-7368380
- https://www.bscnursing2022.com/us-states-with-no-property-tax/
- https://www.nj.com/news/2023/04/here-are-the-30-nj-towns-with-the-lowest-property-tax-bills.html
- https://awbi.in/new-jersey-1500-payment-released-via-anchor-rebate-program-2024/
- https://smartasset.com/taxes/new-jersey-property-tax-calculator
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/property-tax-map-2023-data-homeowner/