For the 2026 tax year, nine US states levy no individual income tax on wages: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. In those states, your paycheck still loses federal income tax and FICA, but $0 goes to state income tax, which can lift your annual take-home pay by thousands of dollars. Figures here are simplified 2026 estimates (sources: state Departments of Revenue, IRS, SSA) and are not tax advice.
Which states have no income tax in 2026?
| State | State income tax on wages | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | None | No state sales tax either; some local sales taxes |
| Florida | None | Relies on sales and tourism taxes |
| Nevada | None | High sales tax; gaming revenue |
| New Hampshire | None | Interest-and-dividends tax repealed in 2025 |
| South Dakota | None | Relies on sales tax |
| Tennessee | None | Former Hall tax repealed in 2021; high sales tax |
| Texas | None | High property taxes |
| Washington | None on wages | 7% capital gains tax on large gains, not salary |
| Wyoming | None | Mineral/severance revenue |
You can open any of these for worked examples — for instance Texas, Florida, Washington, or Tennessee.
How much take-home pay does it actually save?
State income tax can swing your net pay by thousands on the same salary. Here is an estimated comparison for a single filer earning $75,000 in 2026, matching our take-home pay by state data:
| State | State income tax | Net (take-home) pay | Effective total tax rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas (no income tax) | $0 | $61,593 | 17.9% |
| Florida (no income tax) | $0 | $61,593 | 17.9% |
| California (progressive) | $2,941 | $58,652 | 21.8% |
| New York (progressive) | $3,453 | $58,140 | 22.5% |
On this salary, choosing Texas over California keeps about $2,941 more per year, and over New York about $3,453 more — purely from avoiding state income tax. The federal income tax ($7,670) and FICA ($5,738) are identical across all four.
What’s the catch with no-income-tax states?
No state runs on nothing. States without an income tax raise revenue elsewhere, and the trade-off depends on how you spend and what you own:
- Higher sales taxes. Tennessee and Nevada have some of the highest combined state-and-local sales tax rates in the country.
- Higher property taxes. Texas and New Hampshire are well known for steep property tax bills, which matter most if you own a home.
- Other levies. Washington taxes large capital gains; several states lean on tourism, gaming, or natural-resource revenue.
So a high earner who rents may come out far ahead in a no-income-tax state, while a homeowner could see much of the income-tax savings eaten by property tax. The right comparison is total tax burden, not income tax alone.
Does filing status change the picture?
Yes, but not the headline. Filing status affects your federal tax (married-joint and head-of-household brackets are wider) and your state tax in states that have one. In no-income-tax states, the state portion stays at $0 regardless of filing status, so the main variable is the federal and FICA side. See gross vs net pay for how those pieces combine.
How to compare states for your own salary
- Use the take-home pay by state comparison to see net pay across all states on a sample salary.
- Open your candidate states (e.g., Texas vs a state you’re leaving) for worked examples at several income levels.
- Run your exact numbers in the take-home pay calculator.
- Remember to factor in sales and property taxes, which our income-tax estimates do not include.
Sources and disclaimer
- State Departments of Revenue — directory via FTA
- Tax Foundation — 2026 state individual income tax rates and brackets
- IRS — Federal income tax rates and brackets
Not tax advice. All figures are simplified 2026 estimates covering income tax only; they exclude sales tax, property tax, local income taxes, credits, and pre-tax deductions. Verify with each state’s Department of Revenue. See our methodology and disclaimer.