Hawaii Per-Capita State Tax Revenues Highest in Nation, Research Shows
by Mark Coleman
Hawaii has the highest per-capita state tax quotient in the nation, according to new research from the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.
Using data from the National Association of State Budget Officers and the U.S. Census Bureau, the institute calculated the per capita quotient for Hawaii to be $5,428 in fiscal 2020, down slightly from $5,593 in fiscal 2019, probably due to lagging tax payments.
For both years, Hawaii’s totals were more than double the national state averages: $2,664 in fiscal 2020 and $2,717 in fiscal 2019.
Connecticut ranked second highest in fiscal 2020, at $5,396; followed by Massachusetts, $4,944; Delaware, $4,587; and New Jersey, $4,246.
The five states with the lowest per-capita state tax quotients in fiscal 2020 were Michigan, $984; New Hampshire, $1,116; Nevada, $1,299; Florida, $1,443; and Missouri, $1,452.
The data shows that Hawaii’s general excise tax was responsible for the largest share of the state tax quotient, at $2,502 per capita for fiscal 2019. Since the tax is regressive, falling most heavily on those who earn the least, even those in the lowest economic brackets pay a hefty portion of their income to the state.
“I hope these new findings will cause our state legislators to stop adding new taxes,” said Keli’i Akina, institute president and CEO. “Everyone talks about the high cost of living in Hawaii and how it forces so many of our friends and family to leave for the mainland. But here we see one of the biggest reasons for that high cost of living: Hawaii’s sky-high taxes.
“Especially now, in the midst of Hawaii’s worst economic crisis in decades, we need our legislators to understand that that these high taxes are hurting our state. They are contributing to the state’s net population loss and doctor shortage, discouraging investment, and making it impossible for people to thrive, raise families and enjoy living in our state.”
In terms of county taxes, Hawaii’s per-capita county tax quotient ranked 25th in the nation as of fiscal 2018, the most recent year for which data is available.
Hawaii’s county property tax rates are relatively low by national standards, but the state’s high property values ensure that Hawaii residents pay close to the national average. In fiscal 2018 the Hawaii total was $1,355, slightly below the national average of $1,674.
When state and county tax quotients are combined, Hawaii ranked fifth highest, as of fiscal 2018, at $7,319 per capita. No. 1 in 2018 was New York, at $9,822, followed by Connecticut, $8,487; North Dakota, $7,591; and New Jersey, $7,419.
MARK COLEMAN is the communications director of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.
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