The Tax Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on the education of taxpayers, policymakers and the media about issues relating to taxes. For several years, they have ranked each state in the U.S. based on business tax climate.
This year’s list shows that states in the west, including Wyoming, are the most tax-friendly, and those in the Northeast rank as the least.
Most Tax-Friendly States for Businesses
For a fifth straight year, Wyoming tops The Tax Foundation’s list as having the most business-friendly tax environment. The rest of the top ten states are as follows:
- South Dakota
- Alaska
- Florida
- Nevada
- Montana
- New Hampshire
- Indiana
- Utah
- Oregon
The top five states do not have state income taxes for individuals, nor do they have corporate taxes. The Tax Foundation concluded that this is a major reason why these states are at the top of the list. States like Indiana and Utah, who do have some income taxes, work hard to keep the business tax rates low.
Just outside of the top 10 at number 11 is North Carolina, which made the largest jump on the list (from 41 in 2014). This jump is due to several tax reform efforts, with most the gain occurring between 2014 and 2015.
Least Tax-Friendly States for Businesses
This year’s bottom 10 states include:
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Connecticut
- Rhode Island
- Ohio
- Minnesota
- Vermont
- California
- New York
- New Jersey
These states tend to have a complex tax system with high tax rates. New Jersey, which has the highest rate of property tax, levies estate and inheritance taxes and has a difficult income tax system for individuals. NJ has remained at the bottom of the list (either last or next to last) since 2010.
The Tax Foundation decides these rankings through their State Business Tax Climate Index, which ultimately lets interested parties (including policymakers, taxpayers and leaders in the business community) gain an understanding of how a state is fairing in terms of its specific tax system. It also reveals how the state could improve its tax system.
Conclusion
The Tax Foundation’s data is important for two major reasons:
- it allows those already in business to understand how the state in which they’re operating measures up to others in terms of taxes, and
- it allows those interested in starting a business to make decisions about where to begin.
While choosing a home base is important for potential business owners, it’s not the only factor to consider. For more business tips, visit MaxFilings and consult some of the following articles:
- Which State Should I Incorporate in?
- Which States Have the Best Business Tax Climate?
- Where to Incorporate – Why Your Home State May be Your Best Choice After All
- Where to Form Your LLC – Your Home State May be Best After All
- Where to Incorporate: The 3-Man Fight between Delaware, “Delaware West” and “Delaware South”