State Tax Comparison Calculator
Compare the total tax burden between any two US states. See federal, state, and FICA taxes side by side to find which state saves you more money.
| Tax Component | California | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Tax | $13,170 | $13,170 |
| State Tax | $4,345 | $0 |
| FICA | $7,650 | $7,650 |
| Total Tax | $25,165 | $20,820 |
| Take-Home | $74,835 | $79,180 |
| Effective Rate | 25.16% | 20.82% |
| Annual Difference | $4,345 more | $4,345 less |
The $4,345 difference is primarily because California has a progressive income tax with rates up to 13.3%, while Texas has no state income tax. At your income level, California's marginal rate is 9.3%.
Why the difference
You'd save $4,345/year ($362/month) in Texas vs California.
Tax structure
California uses progressive brackets up to 13.3%, while Texas has no state income tax.
Effective rate at your income
At $100,000, Texas's effective state rate is 0.0% vs 4.3% in California — a 4.3 percentage point gap.
Tip: California's progressive brackets mean your effective rate is much lower than 13.3% for most earners. At $100,000, the effective state rate is approximately 5.8%. Consider maximizing 401(k) contributions and HSA to reduce California-taxable income.
Tip: While you save on income tax, Texas property taxes can exceed $5,000-$10,000/year on a median-priced home. Factor in property tax when comparing total tax burden against income-tax states where property taxes may be lower.
California Total Tax
$25,16525.16% effective rate
Texas Total Tax
$20,82020.82% effective rate
Annual Savings
$4,345by living in Texas
How to compare taxes between two states
A meaningful two-state comparison isolates the taxes that actually change when you cross a state line. Federal income tax and FICA are set by federal law and are identical in every state — at $100,000 of income (single, standard deduction, 2025) they come to $13,449 and $7,650 respectively, whether you live in California or Texas. The calculator shows them side by side as matching line items so you can see that the entire difference between the two columns is state income tax.
State income tax is computed on your federal taxable income using each state's own rate structure for the tax year you select (2025 brackets are verified against state revenue department schedules; 2026 reflects enacted changes where officially published). Because both states are evaluated on identical income, filing status, and deductions, the dollar gap is a clean apples-to-apples measure of what relocating — or choosing where to take a job — would change on the income-tax line.
What the comparison models
- Federal income tax (standard or itemized deduction)
- State income tax for both states, using 2025 or 2026 brackets
- FICA (Social Security and Medicare)
- Take-home pay and effective rate in each state
- All five filing statuses
What it deliberately leaves out
- Property tax — depends on home value; see the property tax calculator
- Sales tax — depends on spending; see the sales tax calculator
- City and county income taxes (e.g. NYC, Philadelphia, Ohio municipalities)
- State-specific credits, exemptions, and retirement-income carve-outs
- Cost-of-living differences such as housing and insurance
Worked examples: three common matchups
All three examples use a single filer with the standard deduction for tax year 2025, computed with the same engine that powers the calculator above.
| Matchup | Income | State tax (first state) | State tax (second state) | Total-tax gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California vs Texas | $100,000 | $4,378 | $0 | $4,378 |
| New York vs Florida | $150,000 | $7,487 | $0 | $7,487 |
| Minnesota vs Wisconsin | $80,000 | $3,933 | $2,819 | $1,114 |
California vs Texas at $100,000: California's graduated brackets produce $4,378 of state tax while Texas levies none, so the overall effective rate drops from 25.5% to 21.1% and take-home pay rises from $74,523 to $78,901.
New York vs Florida at $150,000: New York state tax comes to $7,487 against Florida's $0 — a $7,487 annual gap before counting New York City's separate city income tax, which this tool does not model and which widens the difference further for city residents.
Minnesota vs Wisconsin at $80,000: a classic border matchup between two graduated-bracket states. Minnesota's $3,933 versus Wisconsin's $2,819 leaves a $1,114 gap — real money, but several times smaller than the coastal-to-no-tax moves above, which is typical when both states tax wages.
The nine no-income-tax states as comparison targets
Pick any of these as the second state in the calculator above and the state-tax column reads zero — your maximum possible income-tax saving equals your current state's entire bill.
| State | Tax on wage income | Run the numbers |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 0% | Alaska tax calculator |
| Florida | 0% | Florida tax calculator |
| Nevada | 0% | Nevada tax calculator |
| New Hampshire | 0% | New Hampshire tax calculator |
| South Dakota | 0% | South Dakota tax calculator |
| Tennessee | 0% | Tennessee tax calculator |
| Texas | 0% | Texas tax calculator |
| Washington | 0% | Washington tax calculator |
| Wyoming | 0% | Wyoming tax calculator |
Two caveats: New Hampshire historically taxed interest and dividend income (now phased out), and Washington levies a capital gains excise tax on large gains — neither taxes wages, which is what this comparison measures.
Flat-rate vs graduated-bracket states: why the pair matters
For 2025, 13 states apply one flat rate to all taxable income: Arizona (2.5%), Indiana (3%), Louisiana (3%), Pennsylvania (3.07%), Iowa (3.8%), Kentucky (4%), Michigan (4.25%), North Carolina (4.25%), Colorado (4.4%), Utah (4.5%), Illinois (4.95%), Georgia (5.19%), Idaho (5.3%). Massachusetts is a hybrid — a 5% flat rate plus a 4% surtax on income above $1,000,000. The remaining 28 jurisdictions (including DC) use graduated brackets, from a top rate of 13.3% in California on down.
When one of your two states is flat and the other graduated, the cheaper state can flip with income. Compare progressive California with flat-rate Pennsylvania (3.07%): at $30,000 a single filer owes $177 in California but $437 in Pennsylvania — the graduated state is cheaper because its bottom brackets are low. At $200,000 the picture inverts: $13,678 in California against $5,656 in Pennsylvania. Never assume a "low-tax state" is low for your income — run the actual pair at your actual number.
Comparing because you're moving?
This page answers "which of these two states taxes me less" — a relocation adds timing questions on top. If you move mid-year you will usually file part-year resident returns in both states, splitting income by residency period, and the moving states tax calculator models that split plus the annualized saving. If you have not chosen a destination yet, the state tax ranking scores all 50 states at your income so you can shortlist candidates, then bring the top two back here for the head-to-head. For a deep dive on one side of the pair, every state has its own page — for example the California tax calculator — and the curated state-vs-state comparison guides cover popular matchups with local-tax and cost-of-living notes.
Frequently asked questions
Which states have no income tax?
Nine states currently have no individual income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. Note that New Hampshire taxes interest and dividend income, though it is phasing that out. While these states collect no income tax, they may offset lost revenue through higher sales taxes, property taxes, or other fees.
How does state tax affect total tax burden?
State income tax is layered on top of federal income tax and FICA (Social Security and Medicare) taxes. Depending on your income and the state, state tax can add anywhere from 0% to over 13% of your taxable income. State taxes are generally deductible on your federal return up to the SALT cap: under OBBBA (2025+) that cap is $40,000 ($20,000 MFS), phasing out above $500,000 MAGI toward a $10,000 floor. Pre-OBBBA (2018–2024) it was $10,000.
How much less tax would I pay in Texas than in California?
For a single filer earning $100,000 with the standard deduction in 2025, California state income tax is $4,378 while Texas charges $0. Total tax (federal + state + FICA) falls from $25,477 in California to $21,099 in Texas — a gap of $4,378 per year, lifting take-home pay from $74,523 to $78,901. Run your own income and filing status through the calculator above for a personalized figure.
Is federal income tax the same in every state?
Yes. Federal income tax and FICA are identical no matter where you live — at $100,000 of income (single, standard deduction, 2025) that is $13,449 of federal income tax plus $7,650 of FICA in all 50 states. That is why the calculator shows them as matching line items: the entire side-by-side difference comes from state income tax. Property, sales, and local taxes vary too, but they are outside this tool's scope.
How do flat-tax and graduated-bracket states compare?
13 states apply a single flat rate to all taxable income, from 2.5% in Arizona to 5.3% in Idaho for 2025, while 28 jurisdictions (including DC) use graduated brackets, topping out at 13.3% in California. Which structure wins depends on your income: at $30,000 a single filer owes $177 in progressive California versus $437 in flat-rate Pennsylvania, but at $200,000 California costs $13,678 versus Pennsylvania's $5,656.
Does this calculator include property and sales tax?
No. The side-by-side comparison models federal income tax, state income tax, and FICA. Property tax depends on your home's value and local assessment rules, and sales tax depends on what you spend, so neither can be computed from income alone. States with no income tax often lean harder on those channels, so treat the income-tax gap as the starting point of a relocation analysis — then check property and sales tax separately for your two states.
Should I move to a no-income-tax state?
Moving to a no-income-tax state can produce meaningful savings, especially at higher income levels, but it is rarely the only factor to consider. Cost of living, property taxes, sales taxes, housing costs, and quality of public services all vary significantly between states. Use this calculator to quantify the income tax difference, then weigh that against other financial and lifestyle factors before making a decision.
Do state taxes apply to remote workers?
Generally, you owe income tax to the state where you physically perform your work, not necessarily where your employer is based. If you work remotely from one state for a company headquartered in another, you typically owe tax only to your state of residence. However, some states have "convenience of the employer" rules that can tax income earned remotely if you could have worked from the employer's office. Always consult a tax professional if you work across state lines.
Sources
Related insights
Use these guides for rule explanations, planning context, and follow-up questions beyond the calculator result.
How state income tax works
Progressive, flat, and no-tax states, plus what changes when you move.
Moving states tax impact
Residency, partial-year filing, and why relocation savings can be misleading.
Is moving to a no-income-tax state worth it?
A framework for comparing income tax savings against broader cost tradeoffs.
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