State Tax-Savings Calculator

It depends on your income, but the biggest difference is income tax: California has a graduated income tax topping out at 13.3%, while Texas has none. On a six-figure income that alone is often several thousand dollars a year, partly offset by Texas’s higher property taxes. Enter your real numbers above for a personalized estimate.

Nine states levy no tax on wage income: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. Most make up the revenue elsewhere — Texas and New Hampshire through high property taxes, Tennessee and Nevada through high sales taxes.

Yes. It estimates all three of the big state and local taxes — income, sales, and property — because a state with no income tax can still cost you more overall once property and sales taxes are counted. That total is the number that actually matters when you compare states.

They use 2025 published rates and brackets from state revenue departments and the Tax Foundation, modeled for a single filer on gross income. They are designed for quick comparison, not tax filing — your exact bill depends on filing status, deductions, credits, and local income taxes. Always confirm with a tax professional before making a move.

It depends on your income level, home value, and spending habits — there is no single cheapest state for everyone. Alaska has no income or sales tax but high costs of living. Wyoming and Nevada combine no income tax with moderate property and sales taxes. For most middle-income households, states like Tennessee, Florida, and South Dakota tend to rank among the lowest total tax burdens. Use the calculator above with your real numbers to find the answer for your situation.

For high earners, the savings can be substantial — a household earning $200K moving from California to Florida might save $15,000 or more per year in state income tax alone, which compounds to six figures over a decade. But taxes are only part of the equation. You should also weigh cost of living differences, job market access, quality of schools and infrastructure, proximity to family, and the one-time costs of relocating. The calculator gives you the tax piece so you can factor it into the bigger decision.

New York has a graduated income tax that tops out at 10.9%, plus New York City residents pay an additional local income tax. Florida has no state income tax at all. On a $150,000 household income, the income tax savings alone are typically $8,000 to $10,000 per year. Florida also has no estate tax. However, Florida's sales tax and insurance costs are higher than many expect. Enter your income above for a personalized breakdown.

Often, yes. States need revenue, and when they forgo income tax they tend to lean harder on property or sales taxes. Texas is the clearest example: no income tax, but effective property tax rates average around 1.6% to 1.8% — roughly double the national median. New Hampshire has no income or sales tax but some of the highest property taxes in the country. Alaska and Wyoming are exceptions that benefit from natural resource revenues and keep all three tax types relatively low.

Retirees should look beyond income tax rates and consider whether a state taxes Social Security benefits, pensions, and retirement account withdrawals. States like Florida, Nevada, Wyoming, and South Dakota have no income tax at all, so all retirement income is untaxed. Among states with income taxes, Illinois, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania fully exempt retirement income. On the other hand, states like Minnesota, Vermont, and Connecticut tax Social Security benefits for higher earners. Property tax freezes or exemptions for seniors in states like Texas and Georgia can also make a meaningful difference.

If you work remotely full-time, you generally owe income tax to the state where you physically live and work, not where your employer is headquartered. This means moving from a high-tax state to a no-income-tax state can produce real savings even if your employer is based in California or New York. However, a few states have "convenience of the employer" rules — notably New York — that may still tax you if your employer is located there. Always check with a tax advisor about nexus rules for your specific situation.

Beyond higher property and sales taxes, there are several less obvious costs. Some no-income-tax states have higher fees for vehicle registration, tolls, and public services. Homeowner insurance can be significantly more expensive in states like Florida and Texas due to natural disaster risk. The cost of living in desirable metro areas may offset tax savings — Austin and Miami have seen rapid price increases. Finally, states with lower tax revenues may spend less on public infrastructure, schools, and social services, which could mean paying out of pocket for things that were tax-funded in your previous state.

Most states with an income tax do tax at least some retirement income, but the rules vary widely. Nine states tax Social Security benefits to some degree: Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, and West Virginia — though many offer partial exemptions based on income (Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska repealed their Social Security tax effective 2024). For pensions and 401(k) withdrawals, states like California, New York, and Oregon tax them as ordinary income. Illinois, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania stand out for fully exempting retirement distributions from state income tax even though they have an income tax on wages.