The Truth About Montanas Tax Burden That Numbers Hide

Montana Tax Burden Compared To Other States

With it already being April, you’ve probably either started your taxes, or you’re like the rest of us and waiting until April 15th to deal with it.

Let’s be honest, nobody enjoys paying taxes. But here in Montana, it turns out we might not have it quite as bad as some other states.

What Taxes Does Montana Have?

According to WalletHub, Montana ranks near the bottom when it comes to overall tax burden. Sounds pretty great at first, right? Well, there’s a little more to the story.

Most states bring in tax revenue through three main sources: sales tax, income tax, and property tax. Montana skips the sales tax, which makes everyday purchases a bit easier on the wallet and a lot simpler at the register.

The flip side is that we have to make up that money somewhere else.

Where Montana Ranks For Overall Tax Burden

So while Montana comes in at #39 overall for tax burden, things look a bit different when you break it down. Property taxes, even after some relief this year, still rank around #15 in the country, and that’s something a lot of homeowners are definitely feeling.

Income taxes are even higher, landing as the ninth highest in the nation.

So yeah, on paper Montana looks pretty good, but in reality it probably feels closer to the middle of the pack. Not the worst, but not exactly a bargain either.

At the end of the day, the real question is whether people can afford to stay here, and that’s what matters most for a lot of folks across the state.