- Rate
- 3.2%
- Vignette tax
- $2,560
- Rank
- #4
Montgomery County vs Baltimore City Local Income Tax 2026
Both cities tax $2,560 on this vignette.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
- Rate
- 3.2%
- Vignette tax
- $2,560
- Rank
- #3
Side-by-side gap
Local tax difference on $80,000 single-filer wages (local tax only): $0. State, federal, and FICA are not included.
Key takeaways — Montgomery County vs Baltimore City
- Montgomery County and Baltimore City both tax about $2,560 on $80,000 single-filer wages (local tax only).
- Montgomery County: 3.2% (flat resident). Baltimore City: 3.2%.
- Montgomery County ranks #4; Baltimore City ranks #3 (#1 = highest local tax on the vignette).
- Sources: Maryland Comptroller — Withholding Tax Facts 2026; Maryland Comptroller — Withholding Tax Facts 2026 (pair-specific—not every city in the hub).
- Model a full paycheck at / with each city’s local toggle.
Rate contrast — Montgomery County vs Baltimore City
| Topic | Montgomery County | Baltimore City |
|---|---|---|
| Rate type | Flat 3.2% | Flat 3.2% |
| Vignette local tax | $2,560 | $2,560 |
| Effective on vignette | 3.2% | 3.2% |
| State | Maryland (MD) | Maryland (MD) |
| Official source | Maryland Comptroller — Withholding Tax Facts 2026 | Maryland Comptroller — Withholding Tax Facts 2026 |
| Last validated | 2026-08-08 | 2026-08-08 |
Local tax at different wages
Single filer; local/city tax only. Gap is the absolute difference between the two cities.
| Wages | Montgomery County | Baltimore City | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $1,600 | $1,600 | $0 |
| $80,000 | $2,560 | $2,560 | $0 |
| $120,000 | $3,840 | $3,840 | $0 |
| $200,000 | $6,400 | $6,400 | $0 |
How to read this comparison
Montgomery County vs Baltimore City local income tax in 2026
This page compares resident local/city tax only for Montgomery County (MD) and Baltimore City (MD) on $80,000 single-filer wages (local tax only).
Both cities produce about $2,560 of local tax on this wage. Credits, exemptions, and non-resident rules can still differ.
Montgomery County note: Maryland local income tax for Montgomery County at 3.20% (2026). Replaces the ~3% statewide average in this calculator.
Baltimore City note: Maryland local (piggyback) income tax for Baltimore City at 3.20% for tax year 2026 (Comptroller). Replaces this calculator’s ~3% statewide average so local tax is not double-counted. Officially applied to Maryland taxable income; we approximate on the same wage base as state tax.
How each city’s rate works
Montgomery County uses a flat resident rate of 3.2%. Local tax on the vignette is wages × rate = $2,560.
Baltimore City uses a flat resident rate of 3.2%. Local tax on the vignette is $2,560.
Official pages: https://www.marylandcomptroller.gov/content/dam/mdcomp/tax/legal-publications/facts/withholding-tax-facts-2026.pdf and https://www.marylandcomptroller.gov/content/dam/mdcomp/tax/legal-publications/facts/withholding-tax-facts-2026.pdf.
Same wages, different local tax
The ladder below recomputes local tax at $50k–$200k single wages with the same engine as the paycheck calculator.
Both rates are flat, so the dollar gap scales roughly with wages.
Relocation decisions should still include state tax, housing, and sales tax—not local tax alone.
Who this Montgomery County vs Baltimore City comparison helps
Useful if…
- •Candidates weighing Montgomery County vs Baltimore City offers
- •Editors covering municipal wage-tax rate changes
- •Payroll teams comparing withholding for two work locations
Use official tools if…
- •Live-in-one-city / work-in-another schedules (Ohio credits)
- •Non-resident withholding that differs from resident rates
- •Full SALT itemizing questions beyond this local-tax-only page
Montgomery County vs Baltimore City checklist
- 1Read Maryland Comptroller — Withholding Tax Facts 2026 and Maryland Comptroller — Withholding Tax Facts 2026 for current resident rates.
- 2Confirm residency for each city’s ordinance.
- 3Check the wage ladder for your salary band.
- 4Open /local-income-tax-by-city/montgomery-county and /local-income-tax-by-city/baltimore for full profiles.
- 5Run both scenarios in the paycheck calculator with local tax on.
Vignette: $2,560 (Montgomery County) vs $2,560 (Baltimore City).
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Resident local / wage tax rates and vignette tax side by side.