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California vs Texas Total Tax Burden

Texas has the lower state-local burden by 4.9% of income. Compare per-capita burden, income illustrations, sales tax, and property tax.

By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026

Lower average burden

Texas is lower

4.9% of income lower, an illustrative $4,900 annual gap at $100,000 of income.

Side-by-side tax burden scoreboard

California

13.5%

of state income · rank #46

Per capita
$10,167
Sales tax
9.03%
Property tax
0.7%
California profile →

Texas

8.6%

of state income · rank #6

Per capita
$4,994
Sales tax
8.2%
Property tax
1.4%
Texas profile →

Burden illustrations by income

Average-rate illustrations only—not personal tax calculations.

$50,000 income

California$6,750
Texas$4,300

Illustrative difference: $2,450

$75,000 income

California$10,125
Texas$6,450

Illustrative difference: $3,675

$100,000 income

California$13,500
Texas$8,600

Illustrative difference: $4,900

$150,000 income

California$20,250
Texas$12,900

Illustrative difference: $7,350

Per-capita difference

California is $10,167 and Texas is $4,994, a $5,173 gap.

Tax mix matters

Income, sales, property, business, excise, and other taxes contribute differently in each state.

Economic incidence

Burden allocates taxes to who bears their cost, which can differ from where a government collects the payment.

California vs Texas tax burden FAQs

Texas has the lower state-local tax burden by 4.9% of income. The estimates are 13.5% in California and 8.6% in Texas.

Applying the average burden-rate gap to $100,000 gives an illustrative difference of about $4,900 per year.

No. This comparison covers state and local taxes. Federal income and payroll taxes are excluded because they generally do not depend on the state of residence.

The Tax Foundation measure includes individual income, property, general and selective sales, excise, business, license, estate, and other state and local taxes allocated to the residents who economically bear them.

No. It is a statewide average economic-incidence estimate. Income, spending, homeownership, deductions, credits, and local jurisdiction determine an individual household's direct taxes.

Texas has the lower average burden, but salary, housing costs, public services, and household tax exposure should also be compared.

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Compare any two states

Average burden, per-capita cost, income illustrations, sales tax, and property tax.