State Income Tax Comparison 2026: All 50 States Compared
State income tax rates range from 0% (nine states with no tax) to over 13% in California's top bracket. This is the full 2026 comparison across all 50 states, with effective rates for common income levels and the seven states that updated rates for 2026.
The Nine No-Tax States (And Why)
Nine states levy zero state income tax on wages in 2026:
- Alaska, funded by oil revenue and the Permanent Fund
- Florida, sales/tourism tax base
- Nevada, casino and tourism taxes
- New Hampshire, no wage tax, but 5% tax on dividends/interest (phasing out by 2027)
- South Dakota, high sales tax
- Tennessee, eliminated investment tax in 2021
- Texas, high property tax compensates
- Washington, high sales tax + 7% capital gains tax over $250K
- Wyoming, mineral severance taxes
"No state income tax" doesn't mean "low total tax burden." Texas property taxes average 1.6%-2.2% of home value annually, among the highest in the country. Tennessee, Florida, and Washington have sales taxes near 9-10% combined state/local. Compare total burden, not just income tax.
Flat-Rate States in 2026
Twelve states use a flat-rate (single bracket) income tax in 2026 rather than progressive brackets:
- Arizona: 2.5%
- Colorado: 4.40%
- Georgia: 5.39% (moved from progressive in 2024)
- Idaho: 5.695%
- Illinois: 4.95%
- Indiana: 3.0% (lowered from 3.05% in 2026)
- Kentucky: 4.0% (lowered from 4.5%)
- Michigan: 4.05%
- Mississippi: 4.7% (phasing to 4.0% by 2030)
- North Carolina: 4.25% (lowered from 4.5%)
- Pennsylvania: 3.07%
- Utah: 4.65%
Top Bracket Comparison: Where Tax Bites Hardest
| State | Top Rate | Kicks in at |
|---|---|---|
| California | 13.30% | $1M (1% Mental Health Tax) |
| Hawaii | 11.00% | $200K single |
| New York | 10.90% | $25M+ |
| New Jersey | 10.75% | $1M+ |
| Oregon | 9.90% | $125K single |
| Massachusetts | 9.00% | $1M+ ("Millionaire Tax") |
| Minnesota | 9.85% | $183K+ |
| DC | 10.75% | $1M+ |
2026 State Tax Changes You Need to Know
Seven states adjusted their 2026 rates:
- Indiana dropped from 3.05% to 3.0%
- Kentucky dropped from 4.5% to 4.0%
- North Carolina dropped from 4.5% to 4.25%
- Mississippi continued phase-down to 4.7% (target 4.0% by 2030)
- Iowa moved to single 3.8% flat rate
- Louisiana moved to single 3.0% flat rate
- Missouri dropped top rate to 4.7%
OBBBA's federal-only deductions (overtime, tips, senior) do not automatically reduce your state taxable income. About 35 states with progressive or flat income tax still tax overtime and tip income at the state level. Always check your state Department of Revenue page for OBBBA conformity status.