State Tax Information

All states also have their own tax system. Typicallypossessing items of personal property within the
there is a tax on real estate, and there may beboundaries of the state. Automobile and boat
additional income taxes, sales taxes, and exciseregistration fees are a subset of this tax; however,
taxes. Oil and mineral producing states often have amost people are unaware that practically all personal
severance tax, which is similar to an excise tax inproperty is also subject to personal property tax.
that tax is paid on products produced, rather than onUsually, household goods are exempt; but virtually all
sales. Taxes on hotel rooms are common, andobjects of value (including art) are covered, especially
politically popular because the taxpayers usually dowhen regularly used or stored outside of the
not vote in the jurisdiction levying the tax.taxpayer's household.
These states do not levy an individual income tax:States permit the creation of special assessment
Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas,districts (typically for provision of water or removal
Washington, and Wyoming. New Hampshire andof sewage, or for parks, public transit or schools)
Tennessee only tax interest and dividend income.whose boundaries may be independent of other
Delaware, Oregon, Montana and New Hampshire haveboundaries and whose income may be from one or
no state or local sales tax. Alaska has no state salesmore of service assessments, property taxes, parcel
tax, but allows localities to collect their own salestaxes, a portion of road or bridge tolls, or an
taxes up to a state-specified maximum. California hasadditional increment upon sales taxes in addition to
all the mentioned taxes, with the result that taxthe non-tax fees for services provided (such as
liability often exceeds 51% of income for manymetered water). State government is financed mainly
California residents.by a mix of sales and/or income taxes and to a
Many states also levy personal property taxes, whichlesser extent by corporate registration fees, certain
are annual taxes on the privilege of owning orexcise taxes, and automobile license fees.