California vs Texas

Taxes Comparison

California

Texas

How California and Texas compare on taxes: state income tax, state sales tax, property tax, and more.

Overview

Key differences

State Income Tax

Texas has a lower state income tax rate than California.

State Sales Tax

Texas has a lower state sales tax rate than California.

Property Tax

California has a lower effective property tax rate than Texas.

Total Tax Burden

Texas has a lower total tax burden than California.

Metric	CA	TX	Deep dive
State Income Tax Top marginal state income tax rate. 0% = no state income tax.	13.30%	None (0%)	Details ->
State Sales Tax State-level sales tax rate. 0% = no state sales tax (local taxes may apply).	7.25%	6.25%	Details ->
Property Tax Effective real-estate property tax rate (% of home value, WalletHub February 17, 2026 using 2024 data).	0.70%	1.49%	Details ->
Total Tax Burden Total state and local tax burden (property, income, and sales and excise taxes) as a percentage of personal income (WalletHub 2026).	9.24%	7.69%	Details ->
Grocery Tax Rate State sales tax rate on ordinary groceries as of January 1, 2026; local taxes may differ.	0% (Exempt)	0% (Exempt)	Details ->
Estate and Inheritance Tax Whether the state levies an estate tax, inheritance tax, both, or neither in 2025.	No State Death Tax	No State Death Tax	Details ->
Annual Vehicle Property Tax Whether the state or its local governments impose a recurring value-based tax on vehicles.	No	No	Details ->