For freelancers and self-employed workers comparing states, TaxStackHub's State Tax Comparison Tool compares income tax rates, payroll taxes, and total tax burden across all 50 US states — so you see exactly how much a relocation saves you, which no-income-tax states work best for your income level, and what your full tax stack looks like including property, sales, and capital gains.
The only tool that stacks up every tax that hits your wallet — income, property, sales, gas, vehicle registration, capital gains, estate, and inheritance — across all 50 states and 100+ metros. Ask in plain English, get dollar amounts, not rates.
✦ 2026 Data · 12+ Tax Types · 50 States + 100+ Metros · AI Full-Stack Analysis
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Full Stack Tax Analysis — Ask in Plain English
Income + property + sales + gas + vehicle reg + capital gains — the complete picture, not just income tax
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Without a profile, rankings show state-level tax rates. With a profile, you see your actual dollar burden per state.
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State Tax FAQs
Which states have no income tax in 2026? +
Nine states have no state income tax in 2026: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire (no wage income tax), South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington (no wage income tax, but 7% capital gains tax above $262K), and Wyoming. New Hampshire taxes investment income but not wages or self-employment income.
Does Austin or Nashville have lower overall taxes? +
Neither Texas nor Tennessee has a state income tax — that part is equal. The key difference is property tax: Austin, TX averages ~2.12% of home value, while Nashville, TN averages ~0.67%. On a $500K home, Austin owes ~$10,600/year in property tax vs Nashville's ~$3,350. Nashville also has a lower cost of living index. For high earners buying a home, Nashville typically wins on total tax burden.
What cities have local income tax? +
Several major US cities impose local income taxes: New York City (up to 3.876%), Philadelphia (3.44%), Portland, OR (2.6% Metro SHS + 1% Multnomah County), Baltimore (3.2%), Detroit (2.4%), Columbus (2.5%), Cleveland (2.5%), Kansas City (1%), and Louisville (2.2%). These significantly change the math — a NYC resident earning $200K owes ~$7,752 extra in city income tax on top of state taxes.
What is the combined sales tax in major US cities? +
Combined sales tax rates (state + local) vary widely: Chicago 10.25%, Seattle 10.1%, Minneapolis 9.875%, Nashville 9.25%, Los Angeles 9.5%, Atlanta 8.9%, New York City 8.875%, Austin 8.25%, Houston 8.25%, Phoenix 8.4%, Miami 7%, Charlotte 7.25%, Denver 7.65%, Boston 6.25% (MA has no local sales tax), Boise 6%, Portland 0% (no Oregon sales tax).
Which state has the highest property taxes? +
New Jersey has the highest average effective property tax rate at 2.41% of home value. Other high-property-tax states: Illinois (2.08%), Vermont (1.83%), Wisconsin (1.73%), Nebraska (1.67%), and Texas (1.60% statewide, but Austin metro is ~2.12%). The lowest property tax states are Hawaii (0.29%), Alabama (0.41%), Louisiana (0.56%), and Wyoming (0.56%).
Is Texas actually low-tax if you factor in property taxes? +
Texas trades income tax for very high property taxes — it's not uniformly low-tax. With no income tax saving a $200K earner ~$8,000+/year, but Austin property taxes adding ~$10,600/year on a $500K home, the net benefit depends on your income-to-home-price ratio. High earners renting or living in lower-cost Texas cities (San Antonio, El Paso) come out ahead. High earners buying in Austin or Dallas often do not save as much as assumed. Florida offers a better trade-off: no income tax and lower property taxes (~0.83% vs Texas's 1.60%).
What is the best state for self-employed / freelancers? +
For self-employed workers, income tax matters most (since you pay both employer and employee FICA on top of state income tax). Florida, Texas, Nevada, and Wyoming are top picks — no income tax on self-employment earnings. Wyoming adds no sales tax advantage but has very low property taxes. Nevada (Las Vegas) has moderate property taxes and no income tax. Florida pairs no income tax with moderate property taxes and warm weather. If you also want to avoid sales tax, Montana and New Hampshire have neither income nor sales taxes (but Montana has no major metros).
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Weekly insights on tax strategy, rate changes, and the moves that matter. No fluff.
⚠️ For informational purposes only. Tax rates change frequently. Verify current rates with official state/local sources before making relocation or financial decisions. This tool uses 2026 data and does not constitute tax or legal advice. Terms · Privacy 📅 Last Updated: April 2026 · Source: State DOR websites, Tax Foundation 2026 data
Know your federal tax liability to compare against state savings 🏠
State tax savings mean nothing if you're overpaying federal. Run the Home Office Deduction calculator — it feeds into your SE tax and quarterly estimates, so you know the full picture.