The States Where Tax Filers Are Paying the Highest Percentage of Their Income [2026]

With the filing deadline coming up for taxes, FinanceBuzz looked at what the average person can expect to pay this year. Using Census data along with federal and state tax rates, we calculated tax burdens in every state as a percentage of the median annual income for individuals and married couples.

We found the states where individual filers and married couples will pay the highest percentage of their income in federal taxes, state taxes, and overall. Read on to find out how taxes in your state stack up against the rest of the country.

Key findings

• Between state and federal taxes, individual filers in Oregon pay the highest percentage of their income in taxes (24.41%). Oregon is also where couples filing jointly pay the highest rate (23.96%).
• Individuals filing in Florida pay the lowest percentage of their income in taxes (15.74%).
• For joint filers, couples in Tennessee pay the least (15.68%).

The average tax burden in every state for individual filers

Our analysis looked at the "effective" tax rate, which is the percentage of income an individual or couple pays in taxes for the year.

Oregon residents have the nation's highest tax burden, owing 24.41% of their annual income in taxes for 2025. A big reason for this is that Oregon has an effective state-level tax rate that is higher than that of any other state, 7.86%. Only one other state (Hawaii at 5.07%) has an effective rate over 5%.

The impacts of these high state-level taxes are significant enough to give Oregon residents the highest total effective tax burden in the country despite a federal tax burden that ranks 15th in the country.

Massachusetts residents face a 23.62% total effective tax rate for individuals, the second-highest in the country. This is primarily due to Massachusetts having the highest individual median income of any state at $76,732, which puts many Bay Staters into tax brackets where a more significant portion of their income is taxed at higher rates. As a result, Massachusetts residents owe more in federal taxes than residents of any other state. The result is an effective federal tax rate of 18.80% — nearly half a percent higher than that of any other state.

On the other end of the spectrum, Florida residents enjoy the lowest effective tax rate, at 15.74%, followed closely by Nevada (15.77%), Tennessee (15.80%), and South Dakota (15.82%). All these states are among the nine states that do not charge state-level income taxes, which is a major factor contributing to their low overall rates.

The average tax burden in every state for couples filing jointly

There are slightly different rules regarding deduction and exemption amounts for couples. Those differences, combined with different income levels and tax brackets for couples, produce slight differences from individual filers.

Just like their single peers, married couples in Oregon lead the nation when it comes to paying taxes. The average Oregonian couple has an effective tax burden of 23.96%, a little less than a third of a percentage point higher than any other state. Once again, high state-level tax rates in Oregon are the primary culprit, as the state's 7.79% state tax burden for married filers is more than two percentage points higher than anywhere else in the country (Delaware is second at 5.42%).

As is the case with individual filers, states that do not charge state-level income tax have the smallest average tax burden for couples filing a joint return. Tennessee has the lowest effective tax burden in the country at 15.68%, just slightly lower than Wyoming (15.75%).

Florida (15.84%), South Dakota (15.85%), and Nevada (15.99%) round out the list of the five states with the lowest effective tax rates for couples.

Ways to lower your tax burden

Shelling out more of your hard-earned cash than you want to is no fun. But even if you live in a high-tax-burden state, there are plenty of tax strategies you can employ over the course of a year to lower your tax bill.

Shaving a little off your taxes mostly comes down to knowing your options. For example, are you overlooking deductions? Could you be contributing to a 529 plan for a dependent with collegiate aspirations? Maybe you took a bath on some investments — you could look into tax-loss harvesting to put a silver lining on that dark financial cloud.

The point is, unless you're savvy enough to be a financial planner, it's possible you're paying more than you need to. Do a little research and plan for future tax years.

Full data - individuals

State	Median Income	Federal Tax	State Income Tax	Total Tax	Effective Federal Tax Rate	Effective State Tax Rate	Total Effective Tax Rate
Alabama	$53,405	$8,366	$2,430	$10,796	15.67%	4.55%	20.22%
Alaska	$66,828	$11,264	$0	$11,264	16.86%	0.00%	16.86%
Arizona	$60,278	$9,717	$1,113	$10,830	16.12%	1.85%	17.97%
Arkansas	$50,854	$7,865	$1,467	$9,332	15.47%	2.88%	18.35%
California	$69,440	$12,038	$2,471	$14,509	17.34%	3.56%	20.89%
Colorado	$71,700	$12,709	$2,462	$15,170	17.72%	3.43%	21.16%
Connecticut	$72,465	$12,935	$2,132	$15,068	17.85%	2.94%	20.79%
Delaware	$61,447	$9,946	$2,837	$12,784	16.19%	4.62%	20.80%
Florida	$54,375	$8,557	$0	$8,557	15.74%	0.00%	15.74%
Georgia	$58,830	$9,432	$2,430	$11,863	16.03%	4.13%	20.16%
Hawaii	$60,531	$9,766	$3,070	$12,836	16.13%	5.07%	21.21%
Idaho	$58,172	$9,303	$2,248	$11,551	15.99%	3.87%	19.86%
Illinois	$65,318	$10,816	$3,092	$13,908	16.56%	4.73%	21.29%
Indiana	$57,198	$9,111	$1,686	$10,797	15.93%	2.95%	18.88%
Iowa	$57,545	$9,180	$1,588	$10,768	15.95%	2.76%	18.71%
Kansas	$57,112	$9,095	$2,388	$11,482	15.92%	4.18%	20.10%
Kentucky	$53,517	$8,388	$1,755	$10,144	15.67%	3.28%	18.95%
Louisiana	$52,496	$8,187	$1,200	$9,387	15.60%	2.29%	17.88%
Maine	$60,892	$9,837	$2,465	$12,302	16.16%	4.05%	20.20%
Maryland	$74,296	$13,478	$3,165	$16,644	18.14%	4.26%	22.40%
Massachusetts	$78,811	$14,817	$3,721	$18,538	18.80%	4.72%	23.52%
Michigan	$60,533	$9,767	$2,326	$12,093	16.13%	3.84%	19.98%
Minnesota	$66,826	$11,263	$3,055	$14,319	16.85%	4.57%	21.43%
Mississippi	$50,016	$7,700	$1,396	$9,096	15.40%	2.79%	18.19%
Missouri	$56,022	$8,880	$1,717	$10,597	15.85%	3.06%	18.92%
Montana	$55,842	$8,845	$2,112	$10,957	15.84%	3.78%	19.62%
Nebraska	$56,701	$9,014	$2,014	$11,028	15.90%	3.55%	19.45%
Nevada	$54,796	$8,639	$0	$8,639	15.77%	0.00%	15.77%
New Hampshire	$69,187	$11,963	$0	$11,963	17.29%	0.00%	17.29%
New Jersey	$73,606	$13,274	$2,519	$15,793	18.03%	3.42%	21.46%
New Mexico	$53,419	$8,369	$1,361	$9,730	15.67%	2.55%	18.22%
New York	$70,122	$12,241	$3,252	$15,493	17.46%	4.64%	22.09%
North Carolina	$57,196	$9,111	$1,889	$11,000	15.93%	3.30%	19.23%
North Dakota	$60,086	$9,679	$0	$9,679	16.11%	0.00%	16.11%
Ohio	$60,249	$9,711	$1,223	$10,934	16.12%	2.03%	18.15%
Oklahoma	$51,536	$7,999	$1,910	$9,909	15.52%	3.71%	19.23%
Oregon	$65,249	$10,796	$5,129	$15,925	16.55%	7.86%	24.41%
Pennsylvania	$61,875	$10,030	$1,900	$11,930	16.21%	3.07%	19.28%
Rhode Island	$67,063	$11,334	$1,915	$13,249	16.90%	2.86%	19.76%
South Carolina	$55,013	$8,682	$1,713	$10,395	15.78%	3.11%	18.90%
South Dakota	$55,597	$8,797	$0	$8,797	15.82%	0.00%	15.82%
Tennessee	$55,245	$8,728	$0	$8,728	15.80%	0.00%	15.80%
Texas	$58,229	$9,314	$0	$9,314	16.00%	0.00%	16.00%
Utah	$62,186	$10,092	$2,090	$12,181	16.23%	3.36%	19.59%
Vermont	$64,702	$10,634	$1,606	$12,239	16.43%	2.48%	18.92%
Virginia	$67,034	$11,325	$3,040	$14,365	16.89%	4.54%	21.43%
Washington	$75,710	$13,898	$0	$13,898	18.36%	0.00%	18.36%
West Virginia	$52,022	$8,094	$1,611	$9,705	15.56%	3.10%	18.66%
Wisconsin	$60,774	$9,814	$2,141	$11,955	16.15%	3.52%	19.67%
Wyoming	$56,994	$9,071	$0	$9,071	15.92%	0.00%	15.92%
Average	$61,068	$10,037	$1,793	$11,830	16.44%	2.94%	19.37%

Full data - couples filing jointly

State	Median Income	Federal Tax	State Income Tax	Total Tax	Effective Federal Tax Rate	Effective State Tax Rate	Total Effective Tax Rate
Alabama	$103,819	$16,211	$4,711	$20,922	15.61%	4.54%	20.15%
Alaska	$130,953	$21,794	$0	$21,794	16.64%	0.00%	16.64%
Arizona	$115,018	$18,412	$2,088	$20,500	16.01%	1.82%	17.82%
Arkansas	$95,697	$14,615	$3,120	$17,735	15.27%	3.26%	18.53%
California	$138,170	$23,933	$4,884	$28,818	17.32%	3.53%	20.86%
Colorado	$138,217	$23,947	$4,696	$28,643	17.33%	3.40%	20.72%
Connecticut	$151,587	$27,912	$5,105	$33,016	18.41%	3.37%	21.78%
Delaware	$123,300	$20,039	$6,678	$26,717	16.25%	5.42%	21.67%
Florida	$109,871	$17,400	$0	$17,400	15.84%	0.00%	15.84%
Georgia	$116,922	$18,786	$4,823	$23,609	16.07%	4.12%	20.19%
Hawaii	$133,605	$22,580	$7,093	$29,673	16.90%	5.31%	22.21%
Idaho	$105,402	$16,522	$3,917	$20,439	15.68%	3.72%	19.39%
Illinois	$127,452	$20,855	$6,027	$26,882	16.36%	4.73%	21.09%
Indiana	$106,778	$16,793	$3,143	$19,936	15.73%	2.94%	18.67%
Iowa	$110,683	$17,560	$3,006	$20,566	15.87%	2.72%	18.58%
Kansas	$111,024	$17,627	$4,538	$22,165	15.88%	4.09%	19.96%
Kentucky	$98,920	$15,249	$3,227	$18,476	15.42%	3.26%	18.68%
Louisiana	$104,613	$16,367	$2,388	$18,756	15.65%	2.28%	17.93%
Maine	$110,544	$17,533	$4,172	$21,704	15.86%	3.77%	19.63%
Maryland	$158,746	$30,034	$6,866	$36,900	18.92%	4.32%	23.24%
Massachusetts	$159,210	$30,172	$7,521	$37,692	18.95%	4.72%	23.67%
Michigan	$110,529	$17,530	$4,204	$21,734	15.86%	3.80%	19.66%
Minnesota	$128,690	$21,123	$6,027	$27,150	16.41%	4.68%	21.10%
Mississippi	$98,570	$15,180	$2,727	$17,906	15.40%	2.77%	18.17%
Missouri	$107,473	$16,929	$3,395	$20,324	15.75%	3.16%	18.91%
Montana	$108,127	$17,058	$4,268	$21,326	15.78%	3.95%	19.72%
Nebraska	$112,075	$17,834	$3,960	$21,793	15.91%	3.53%	19.45%
Nevada	$114,402	$18,291	$0	$18,291	15.99%	0.00%	15.99%
New Hampshire	$139,183	$24,234	$0	$24,234	17.41%	0.00%	17.41%
New Jersey	$152,435	$28,163	$5,540	$33,703	18.48%	3.63%	22.11%
New Mexico	$102,481	$15,948	$2,725	$18,673	15.56%	2.66%	18.22%
New York	$130,648	$21,703	$5,970	$27,674	16.61%	4.57%	21.18%
North Carolina	$111,345	$17,690	$3,648	$21,339	15.89%	3.28%	19.16%
North Dakota	$118,577	$19,111	$1,698	$20,809	16.12%	1.43%	17.55%
Ohio	$112,149	$17,848	$2,655	$20,503	15.91%	2.37%	18.28%
Oklahoma	$100,115	$15,483	$3,680	$19,164	15.47%	3.68%	19.14%
Oregon	$120,342	$19,458	$9,370	$28,828	16.17%	7.79%	23.96%
Pennsylvania	$118,521	$19,100	$3,639	$22,739	16.12%	3.07%	19.19%
Rhode Island	$131,985	$22,100	$3,950	$26,050	16.74%	2.99%	19.74%
South Carolina	$107,819	$16,997	$3,999	$20,996	15.76%	3.71%	19.47%
South Dakota	$110,370	$17,499	$0	$17,499	15.85%	0.00%	15.85%
Tennessee	$105,402	$16,522	$0	$16,522	15.68%	0.00%	15.68%
Texas	$116,785	$18,759	$0	$18,759	16.06%	0.00%	16.06%
Utah	$123,651	$20,108	$4,147	$24,255	16.26%	3.35%	19.62%
Vermont	$118,784	$19,152	$2,727	$21,879	16.12%	2.30%	18.42%
Virginia	$135,478	$23,135	$6,419	$29,555	17.08%	4.74%	21.81%
Washington	$136,875	$23,549	$0	$23,549	17.21%	0.00%	17.21%
West Virginia	$91,334	$13,758	$3,371	$17,129	15.06%	3.69%	18.75%
Wisconsin	$113,558	$18,125	$4,728	$22,853	15.96%	4.16%	20.12%
Wyoming	$107,526	$16,940	$0	$16,940	15.75%	0.00%	15.75%
Average	$118,715	$19,473	$3,617	$23,090	16.40%	3.05%	19.45%

More tips for making tax season less stressful

No matter where you live, tax season can be overwhelming. Here are some tips on how to stay on top of your taxes and maybe even save a little in the process:

• Taxes can feel overwhelming for many reasons, so it's worth it to research how to file taxes before you dive in.
• There are many options for tax filing companies if you're filing yourself, but these are the best tax software programs to check out.
• If you're getting money back from Uncle Sam, you can track your tax refund to learn when it will get to you.
• There are various clever ways for most people to pay less in taxes, including several strategies used by millionaires to avoid taxes.
• Nobody likes to owe taxes, but using a credit card to pay your taxes could lessen the pain, thanks to the potential to earn rewards.

Ask the experts

Tax season doesn't always have to be a burden. To help you file with confidence, we reached out to a panel of experts.

Which Americans would benefit from filing through paid services versus free filing options?

What are the potential risks of falling behind on taxes owed?

Are there any deductions or credits filers should look into this year?

Responses were lightly edited for clarity.

Methodology

We used the most up-to-date data from the U.S. Census Bureau to find the median income in every state for individual full-time, year-round workers and married couples.

We then used federal guidelines for the 2025 tax year (filing in 2026) relating to deductions and taxable income to determine the federal taxes (income and FICA) owed by individuals and couples in each state. We then used information from individual state tax and revenue department websites to determine the state-level tax owed by individuals and couples in each state for the 2025 tax year (filing in 2026). By combining those amounts, we found the total amount owed. Finally, we divided that amount by the median annual income to find the effective tax rate in every state.

For this analysis, we did not include any potential deductions or exemptions relating to dependents but did include uniform deductions and exemptions available for individual filers and couples filing jointly.