New Study Compares California’s Tax Burden with Other States

The Tax Foundation recently released a report that compares various aspects of the tax burden between the states. The report includes data on corporate and individual income taxes, property taxes, unemployment insurance taxes, and other taxes and fees. State and local tax rates in California are among the highest in the country, and per-capita tax collections rank fifth in the nation. Only five states have higher corporate tax rates than California. The Foundation compiles an annual composite State Business Tax Climate Index, which ranks all of the states in terms of total tax burden. California rated 48th in the 2013 Index, with only New Jersey and New York having a less favorable tax system for businesses. Texas, Oregon, Washington, and Florida, states with large agriculture and food processing sectors, all ranked in the top ten due to their relatively lower tax burden. The full report can be viewed on the Tax Foundation’s website: www.taxfoundation.org.