Nine states have no income tax on wages in 2026: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. If you live and work in one of them, your paycheck loses federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, but no state income tax.
That doesn't always mean zero state deductions. A couple of these states collect payroll contributions for specific programs, and every one of them raises money some other way. Here is what the list looks like, what still shows up on your pay stub, and how much difference it makes in real dollars.
The 9 states with no income tax
Each of these states skips the wage tax, but they differ in the details. The notes below come from our 2026 state data, which is based on the Tax Foundation's state rate tables.
| State | Wage income tax | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | None | No statewide sales tax either. Employees contribute to unemployment insurance through payroll. |
| Florida | None | Relies mainly on sales tax and tourism-related revenue. |
| Nevada | None | Employers pay a modified business tax on payroll, but it is not withheld from your pay. |
| New Hampshire | None | Its old tax on interest and dividends ended after 2024, so there is no personal income tax at all. |
| South Dakota | None | Only federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare come out of a typical paycheck. |
| Tennessee | None | Its former tax on investment income was repealed in 2021. Leans heavily on sales tax. |
| Texas | None | The state constitution makes adding an income tax very difficult. |
| Washington | None on wages | Taxes only large capital gains. Employees pay 0.58% to the WA Cares Fund plus a Paid Family and Medical Leave premium. |
| Wyoming | None | No personal or corporate income tax. |
You can open any of them in our calculators, such as the Texas paycheck calculator, the Florida paycheck calculator or the Washington paycheck calculator.
What still comes out of your paycheck
Living in a no-tax state removes one line from your pay stub. The federal lines stay exactly the same as anywhere else in the country:
- Federal income tax, based on your W-4, filing status and pay.
- Social Security at 6.2% of wages up to $184,500 in 2026.
- Medicare at 1.45% of all wages, plus an extra 0.9% that employers withhold once your wages pass $200,000 for the year.
- Your own choices, such as 401(k) contributions, health insurance premiums and HSA deposits.
State payroll items that can still appear
Washington is the clearest example. Its WA Cares long-term care contribution is 0.58% of wages, and employees also pay a share of the state's Paid Family and Medical Leave premium. Alaska is one of the few states where employees chip in to unemployment insurance, so a small state deduction can appear there too.
These amounts are small next to an income tax, but they explain why two people with the same salary in Texas and Washington don't take home exactly the same amount.
How much more you keep: a worked example
Take a single filer earning $70,000 a year, paid biweekly (26 paychecks), with no 401(k) or insurance deductions. Federal withholding, Social Security and Medicare are the same in every state: about $252.69, $166.92 and $39.04 per paycheck. The state line is what changes.
| State | State income tax per paycheck | Other state payroll per paycheck | Net per paycheck | Net per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | $0.00 | $0.00 | $2,233.66 | $58,075 |
| Washington | $0.00 | $15.62 (WA Cares) | $2,218.04 | $57,669 |
| Georgia | $115.78 | $0.00 | $2,117.88 | $55,065 |
| Oregon | $203.67 | $2.69 (transit tax) | $2,027.30 | $52,710 |
All figures are estimates from our calculator. The Washington number doesn't include the Paid Family and Medical Leave premium (the state calculator does), and the Oregon figure is likely a bit high because the calculator doesn't apply Oregon's partial subtraction for federal tax.
The gap is real: compared with Georgia's flat 5.19% rate, the Tennessee worker keeps about $3,010 more per year. Compared with Oregon, the difference is over $5,000. Run your own salary through the paycheck calculator to see your numbers.
No income tax doesn't mean low taxes overall
States still have to pay for roads, schools and services, so the money comes from somewhere else. Depending on the state, that can mean higher sales taxes, higher property taxes, or taxes on specific industries such as tourism or natural resources.
That matters if you're weighing a move. A bigger paycheck in a no-tax state can be offset by a higher property tax bill if you own a home, or by more sales tax if you spend most of what you earn. The paycheck is the easiest part to measure, which is why it gets most of the attention. For a broader look, see our guide on comparing salaries across states.
When you might still owe another state
Living in a no-tax state protects your wages only when the work happens there too. If you live in one of these nine states but commute into a state that taxes wages, that state can generally tax the pay you earn within its borders. A Washington resident who works in Oregon is a common example.
The same question comes up for remote workers and people who move mid-year. Our guides on living in one state and working in another and remote work and state income taxes walk through how that works. For the exact rules in your situation, check with the state's revenue department.
How states with no income tax compare to low-tax states
A few states that do tax wages come close to zero for many workers. North Dakota, for example, taxes nothing on the first $48,475 of taxable income for single filers, then only 1.95% and 2.5% above that. Arizona's flat rate is 2.5%.
If you're comparing places to live, it helps to look at these alongside the nine zero-tax states. Our list of the states with the lowest income tax rates covers them in detail, and the full state calculator directory lets you compare any two states side by side.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many states have no income tax in 2026?
Nine: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. Washington taxes large capital gains but not wages.
Do I still pay federal income tax in a state with no income tax?
Yes. Federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare apply in every state. Only the state income tax line disappears.
Why is there a state deduction on my Washington pay stub?
Washington employees pay 0.58% of wages to the WA Cares long-term care fund and a share of the Paid Family and Medical Leave premium. Neither is an income tax.
Does New Hampshire tax any income now?
No. New Hampshire never taxed wages, and its tax on interest and dividends ended after 2024.
Sources
- Tax Foundation: State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2026
- IRS Publication 15, Employer's Tax Guide
- Social Security Administration: Contribution and Benefit Base
Run the numbers for your state
Written and checked against IRS, Social Security Administration and state tax agency publications for the 2026 tax year. General information, not tax, legal or financial advice. Read our editorial policy, calculation methodology and sources.