According to the Tax Foundation’s 2018 State Business Tax Climate Index, Iowa ranked 40th for its tax competitiveness, holding steady from its 2017 ranking.
The Foundation’s annual index is designed to help business leaders, government policymakers, and taxpayers determine how their state’s tax system compares to others.
Here’s how Iowa rated on all metrics:
Corporate tax: 48th
Individual income tax: 33rd
Sales tax: 19th
Unemployment insurance tax: 34th
Property tax: 39th
The study authors noted that Iowa has a 12 percent corporate income tax rate, “the worst ranking among states that levy one.”
The study’s authors also noted that the “absence of a major tax is a common factor among many of the top 10 states.” “Property taxes and unemployment insurance taxes are levied in every state, but there are several states that do without one or more of the major taxes: the corporate income tax, the individual income tax, or the sales tax. Wyoming, Nevada, and South Dakota have no corporate or individual income tax (though Nevada imposes gross receipts taxes); Alaska has no individual income or state-level sales tax; Florida has no individual income tax; and New Hampshire, Montana, and Oregon have no sales tax.”
Overall, Wyoming ranked No. 1, and New Jersey ranked worst at No. 50.
Click here for more information about the study, and to see how neighboring states ranked.