PA Taxes Rank Among Nation's Highest: Study

PENNSYLVANIA — If you believe you pay too much in taxes living in Pennsylvania, there is reason to believe you're correct. A new study by financial analytics site WalletHub indicates that the state has some of the highest tax rates in the country.

Pennsylvania has the second-highest income taxes, 10th-highest real estate taxes and 25th highest sales and excise taxes, the analysis found. More reason to be glum: Pennsylvania has the nation's third-highest gas taxes.

The study compared state and local tax rates in the 50 states and the District of Columbia against national medians. Overall, Alaska was found to have the lowest tax rates and Illinois had the highest.

To determine the state rankings, WalletHub used information from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Tax Foundation, Federation of Tax Administrators, American Petroleum Institute, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, National Automobile Dealers Association and each state’s Department of Motor Vehicles.

In addition to the WalletHub study, the company also surveyed an undisclosed number of people on how they feel on taxes. The national results:

• Thirty percent of people say making a math mistake is their biggest tax fear.

• Thirty-eight percent of people would move to a different country for a tax-free future. Twenty-seven percent would get an “IRS” tattoo and 19 percent would stop talking for 6 months.

See the entire WalletHub study here.