Jan 10, 2024

Question of the Day: How many states do not have state income taxes?

Did you know that most people have to file tax returns for both federal AND state income taxes? Listed below are the 9 states that do not have state income taxes. 

Answer: 9 states, including Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. New Hampshire does not tax earned income, but still taxes dividends and interest. 

 

Questions:

  • How does your state's tax rate compare to other neighboring states? 
  • Do you think that states that have high state income tax rates (e.g., CA and NY) have to pay higher salaries to compensate employees for these high taxes? Why or why not?
  • Can you name common taxes that people pay other than state and federal income taxes? 

 

Click here for the ready-to-go slides for this Question of the Day that you can use in your classroom.

 

Behind the numbers: (Investopedia):

"Everybody wants a lower tax bill. One way to accomplish that might be to live in a state with no income tax. At present, seven states—Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming—levy no state income tax at all. Washington state levies an income tax on investment income and capital gains, but it is only for certain high earners.

Though Tennessee used to tax investment and interest income, the Hall income tax was fully repealed as of Jan. 1, 2021. Elsewhere, New Hampshire currently taxes investment and interest income but is set to phase out those taxes starting in 2023. That will bring the number of states with no income tax to nine by 2027." 

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Learn tips and tricks to implement Questions of the Day in your classroom

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To get your students ready to organize and file those returns, check out NGPF's Taxes unit. 

About the Author

Ryan Wood

Ryan is the Partnerships and Adoption Manager for Next Gen Personal Finance’s midwest region. He brings his experience as a former teacher, curriculum designer, and sales and marketing professional to state organizations and school districts in supporting the implementation of their personal financial education efforts. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and earned his teaching credential from Saint Mary’s University in Winona, Minnesota. He proudly taught at two rural high schools in Wisconsin before transitioning to curriculum design at NGPF, and is now excited to be on the front lines in delivering the best possible financial education in the midwest. He and his wife have three beautiful daughters, each of which inspire him to share the impact of being sound financial stewards both at home and as lifelong learners.

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