-
Overall Rank
4
No change since 2026 -
25
Down 6 places since 2026 -
1
No change since 2026 -
16
Up 1 place since 2026 -
21
Down 2 places since 2026 -
Unemployment Insurance Tax Rank
9
Down 2 places since 2026
Florida ranks 4th overall on the 2027 State Tax Competitiveness Index.
Score 6.71 / 10
About Florida's Tax Code
Florida boasts no individual income tax and a competitive 5.5 percent corporate income tax rate. Unlike many of its regional competitors, Florida does not tax capital stock, and its corporate income tax largely adheres to national norms, yielding a highly competitive overall tax code. However, the state falls short on its treatment of capital investment, allowing corporate taxpayers to claim just 14 percent of the federal first-year bonus depreciation allowance for qualified machinery and equipment investments. With full expensing under Section 168(k) now permanent at the federal level, Florida should consider conforming to this provision of the federal tax code.
Despite having no individual income tax and a sales tax base that contains a fair amount of exemptions and sales tax holidays, Florida’s current combined state and local sales tax rate of 6.98 percent is lower than those levied in many other southern states.
Florida offers a de minimis exemption for tangible personal property, but at $25,000, it is relatively low, offering a possible avenue for improvement. Despite a few outlier provisions, in most regards, the state’s current tax code is among the more competitive in the country.
Component Scores
#4 overall · 6.71 / 10Each component is scored from 0 to 10, where 10 is best. Select a component for its detail page.
| Component | Rank | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corporate Taxes | #25 | 5.25 / 10 | |
| Individual Income Taxes | #1 | 10.00 / 10 | |
| Sales Taxes | #16 | 5.19 / 10 | |
| Property Taxes | #21 | 5.13 / 10 | |
| Unemployment Insurance Taxes | #9 | 5.73 / 10 |
Ranking Changes, 2020–2027
#4 in 2027 · unchanged from 2020Florida ranked 4th in 2020 and ranks 4th in 2027, no net change. The axis is zoomed to the state's range. Ranks for 2020 through 2026 are backcast under the current methodology.
Show the Table
| Year | Overall | Corporate | Individual Income | Sales | Property | Unemployment Insurance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 4 (6.74) | 16 (5.46) | 1 (10.00) | 17 (5.13) | 23 (5.29) | 5 (6.04) |
| 2021 | 4 (6.79) | 9 (5.62) | 1 (10.00) | 18 (5.13) | 20 (5.30) | 5 (6.01) |
| 2022 | 4 (6.80) | 9 (5.66) | 1 (10.00) | 17 (5.20) | 18 (5.30) | 10 (5.69) |
| 2023 | 4 (6.75) | 17 (5.47) | 1 (10.00) | 17 (5.16) | 23 (5.25) | 8 (5.68) |
| 2024 | 4 (6.75) | 16 (5.48) | 1 (10.00) | 16 (5.17) | 21 (5.23) | 9 (5.62) |
| 2025 | 4 (6.80) | 16 (5.45) | 1 (10.00) | 17 (5.17) | 15 (5.54) | 9 (5.66) |
| 2026 | 4 (6.77) | 19 (5.41) | 1 (10.00) | 17 (5.15) | 19 (5.24) | 7 (5.73) |
| 2027 | 4 (6.71) | 25 (5.25) | 1 (10.00) | 16 (5.19) | 21 (5.13) | 9 (5.73) |
Florida Compared across the States
#4 overallEach row places the states on a 0 to 10 score scale for one measure. Florida is the large outlined dot, and the dashed line is the 50-state median, so a dot to its right scores better than the typical state. Hover over or tab to any dot for detail, and select it to open that state's profile.
Overall
#4 6.71
Corporate Taxes
#25 5.25
Individual Income Taxes
#1 10.00
Sales Taxes
#16 5.19
Property Taxes
#21 5.13
Unemployment Insurance Taxes
#9 5.73
- Florida
- Other states, by rank (1st to 50th)
- 50-state median
Florida and Its Neighbors
#4 overallFlorida borders 2 states and ranks 4th overall; it outranks every one of them.
What Each Component Includes
The five components of the Index, what each one covers, and where Florida lands. Open any component for the full breakdown.
-
Corporate Taxes
Rank #25Includes corporate income taxes and gross receipts taxes. Measures the impact of each state’s principal tax on business activities.
Full Breakdown for Florida → -
Individual Income Taxes
Rank #1Covers the tax individuals pay on income, and with it a significant number of businesses — sole proprietorships, partnerships, and S corporations — that report their income through the individual income tax code.
Full Breakdown for Florida → -
Sales Taxes
Rank #16Covers the general sales tax levied on the purchase price of goods and services, plus excise taxes on gasoline, diesel, tobacco, vapor products, beer, and spirits, and taxes on digital advertising.
Full Breakdown for Florida → -
Property Taxes
Rank #21Includes taxes on real and personal property, net worth, and the transfer of assets — among them capital stock, estate, inheritance, and real estate transfer taxes.
Full Breakdown for Florida → -
Unemployment Insurance Taxes
Rank #9Covers the taxes employers pay into the state unemployment insurance program to finance benefits for workers recently unemployed.
Full Breakdown for Florida →
Tax Data Explorer
Every policy variable behind Florida's 2027 scores, grouped by the report's tables, as of July 1, 2026. Its bordering states are shown alongside to start. Search the variables and values, or add up to 4 states to compare side by side.
146 data points · Shaded values differ from Florida
Corporate Taxes: Corporate Income Tax Rates
| Variable | Florida | Alabama | Georgia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bracket 1 | 5.5% > $50,000 | 6.5% > $0 (differs) | 4.99% > $0 (differs) |
| Gross Receipts Tax | No | No | No |
Corporate Taxes: Tax Credits and Gross Receipts Deductions
| Variable | Florida | Alabama | Georgia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Job Credits | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Research and Development Credits | Yes | No (differs) | Yes |
| Investment Credits | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Compensation Expenses Deductible | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. |
| Cost of Goods Sold Deductible | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. |
Corporate Taxes: Net Operating Losses
| Variable | Florida | Alabama | Georgia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conforms to Federal NOL Treatment | Yes | No (differs) | Yes |
| Carryback (Years) | Conforms to federal treatment | 0 (differs) | Conforms to federal treatment |
| Carryback Cap | Conforms to federal treatment | $0 (differs) | Conforms to federal treatment |
| Carryforward (Years) | Conforms to federal treatment | 15 (differs) | Conforms to federal treatment |
| Carryforward Cap | Conforms to federal treatment | Unlimited (differs) | Conforms to federal treatment |
Corporate Taxes: Treatment of Capital Investment
| Variable | Florida | Alabama | Georgia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Section 168(k) Expensing | 14.29% | 100% (differs) | 0% (differs) |
| Conforms to Section 163(j) Limitation | Yes | Yes | No (differs) |
| GILTI Inclusion | Decouples | Decouples | Decouples |
| Section 174 Expensing | No | Yes (differs) | Yes (differs) |
| Section 168(n) Expensing | No | Yes (differs) | No |
Corporate Taxes: Other Corporate Base Variables
| Variable | Florida | Alabama | Georgia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Income Used as State Tax Base | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Conformity Status | Static (current) | Rolling (differs) | Static (current) |
| Allows Federal ACRS or MACRS Depreciation | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Allows Federal Depletion | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Throwback Rule | No | No | No |
| Foreign Tax Deductibility | Yes | Yes | No (differs) |
| Corporate AMT | No | No | No |
| Brackets Indexed for Inflation | Flat CIT | Flat CIT | Flat CIT |
Individual Income Taxes: Individual Income Tax Rates
| Variable | Florida | Alabama | Georgia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bracket 1 | No Income Tax | 2.0% > $0 (differs) | 4.99% > $0 (differs) |
| Bracket 2 | n.a. | 4.0% > $500 (differs) | n.a. |
| Bracket 3 | n.a. | 5.0% > $3,000 (differs) | n.a. |
| Standard Deduction (Single Filer) | n.a. | $3,000 (differs) | $12,000 (differs) |
| Personal Exemption (Single Filer) | n.a. | $1,500 (differs) | n.a. |
| Personal Exemption Credit (Single Filer) | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. |
| Personal Exemption per Dependent | n.a. | $1,000 (differs) | $5,000 (differs) |
| Personal Exemption Credit per Dependent | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. |
| Average Local Income Tax Rate | None | 0.50% (differs) | None |
| Surtaxes on Wage Income | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. |
Individual Income Taxes: Marriage Penalty, Capital Income, Indexation
| Variable | Florida | Alabama | Georgia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marriage Penalty | n.a. | No (differs) | No (differs) |
| Married Couples Can File Separately on One Return | n.a. | No (differs) | No (differs) |
| Convenience Rule | No | No | No |
| Interest Taxed | n.a. | Yes (differs) | Yes (differs) |
| Dividends Taxed | n.a. | Yes (differs) | Yes (differs) |
| Capital Gains Taxed | n.a. | Yes (differs) | Yes (differs) |
| Combined Capital Gains Tax Rate | n.a. | 5% (differs) | 4.99% (differs) |
| Tax Brackets Indexed for Inflation | n.a. | No (differs) | Yes (differs) |
| Standard Deduction Indexed for Inflation | n.a. | No (differs) | No (differs) |
| Personal Exemption Indexed for Inflation | n.a. | No (differs) | No (differs) |
| Progressivity Ratio | n.a. | 1.00 (differs) | 1.00 (differs) |
Individual Income Taxes: Other Individual Base Variables
| Variable | Florida | Alabama | Georgia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Income Used as State Tax Base | n.a. | No (differs) | Yes (differs) |
| Conformity Status | n.a. | Rolling (differs) | Static (current) (differs) |
| Credits for Taxes Paid to Other States | n.a. | Yes (differs) | Yes (differs) |
| AMT Levied | n.a. | No (differs) | No (differs) |
| Recognition of S Corporation Status | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Section 179 Expensing Limit | $2,560,000 | $2,560,000 | $2,560,000 |
| Tips | n.a. | Taxable (differs) | Partial (differs) |
| Overtime | n.a. | Partial (differs) | Partial (differs) |
| Filing and Withholding Threshold Index | 10 | 5 (differs) | 5.659 (differs) |
Individual Income Taxes: Other Individual Income Variables
| Variable | Florida | Alabama | Georgia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income Recapture | n.a. | No (differs) | No (differs) |
Sales Taxes: Sales and Excise Tax Rates
| Variable | Florida | Alabama | Georgia |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Sales Tax Rate | 6.00% | 4.00% (differs) | 4.00% (differs) |
| Average Local Sales Tax Rate | 0.98% | 5.46% (differs) | 3.56% (differs) |
| Maximum Local Sales Tax Rate | 2.00% | 11.00% (differs) | 5.00% (differs) |
| Gasoline Tax (Cents per Gallon) | 40.10 | 31.00 (differs) | 34.05 (differs) |
| Diesel Tax (Cents per Gallon) | 40.97 | 32.75 (differs) | 38.05 (differs) |
| Cigarette Tax (Dollars per Pack of 20) | $1.339 | $0.675 (differs) | $0.37 (differs) |
| Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon) | $0.48 | $0.5333 (differs) | $0.48 |
| Spirits Tax (Dollars per Gallon) | $6.50 | $22.87 (differs) | $3.79 (differs) |
| Vapor Tax Ratio to Cigarette Tax | n.a. | n.a. | 5.00% (differs) |
Sales Taxes: Business-to-Business Exemptions
| Variable | Florida | Alabama | Georgia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Inputs | Some Taxable | Some Taxable | Some Taxable |
| Farm Equipment | Exempt | Partial (differs) | Exempt |
| Office Equipment | Taxable | Taxable | Taxable |
| Manufacturing Machinery | Exempt | Partial (differs) | Exempt |
| Manufacturing Raw Materials | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt |
| Business Fuel and Utilities | Exempt | Exempt | Partial (differs) |
| Business Leases and Rentals | Taxable | Taxable | Taxable |
| Information Services | Exempt | Taxable (differs) | Exempt |
| Software as a Service (SaaS) | Exempt | Taxable (differs) | Exempt |
| Platform as a Service (PaaS) | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt |
| Digital B2B Products | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt |
| Payroll Services | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt |
| Data Center Purchases | Exempt | Partial (differs) | Exempt |
| Digital Advertising Tax | No | No | No |
Sales Taxes: Consumer Goods and Services in the Base
| Variable | Florida | Alabama | Georgia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groceries | Exempt | Alternate Rate (differs) | Exempt |
| Clothing | Taxable | Taxable | Taxable |
| Prescription Medication | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt |
| Nonprescription Medication | Exempt | Taxable (differs) | Taxable (differs) |
| Gasoline | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt |
| Landscaping | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt |
| Repair Services | Taxable | Exempt (differs) | Exempt (differs) |
| Real Estate Services | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt |
| Parking | Taxable | Exempt (differs) | Exempt (differs) |
| Dry Cleaning | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt |
| Fitness Services | Taxable | Exempt (differs) | Exempt (differs) |
| Barber Services | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt |
| Veterinary Services | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt |
| E-Books | Exempt | Taxable (differs) | Taxable (differs) |
| Streaming Video | Exempt | Taxable (differs) | Taxable (differs) |
| Medical Services | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt |
| Legal Services | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt |
| Financial Services | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt |
| Accounting Services | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt |
| Sales Tax Holiday | Yes | Yes | No (differs) |
Sales Taxes: Sales Tax Structure
| Variable | Florida | Alabama | Georgia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uniform Base Definitions | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Unified Tax Administration | Yes | Partial (differs) | Yes |
| Safe Harbor for Remote Sellers | Gross Sales Threshold | Gross Sales Threshold | Sales or Transactions Threshold (differs) |
Property Taxes: Property and Capital Stock Tax Rates
| Variable | Florida | Alabama | Georgia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property Tax Collections per Capita | $2,003 | $849 (differs) | $1,735 (differs) |
| Property Tax as a Percentage of Personal Income | 2.73% | 1.48% (differs) | 2.76% (differs) |
| Assessment Limit | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Levy Limit | No | No | No |
| Capital Stock Tax Rate | None | 0.175% (differs) | Fixed dollar payment schedule (differs) |
| Capital Stock Tax Maximum Payment | n.a. | $15,000 (differs) | $5,000 (differs) |
| Payment Options for Capital Stock and Corporate Income Taxes | n.a. | Pay both (differs) | Pay both (differs) |
Property Taxes: Property Tax Bases
| Variable | Florida | Alabama | Georgia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tangible Personal Property Tax | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tangible Personal Property De Minimis Exemption | $25,000 | $100,000 (differs) | $20,000 (differs) |
| Intangible Property Tax | No | Yes (differs) | No |
| Inventory Tax | No | No | Partial (differs) |
| Real Estate Transfer Tax | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Split Roll | No | Yes (differs) | No |
| Split Roll Ratio | 1.00 | 2.00 (differs) | 1.00 |
| Estate Tax | No | No | No |
| Inheritance Tax | No | No | No |
| Gift Tax | No | No | No |
Unemployment Insurance Taxes: UI Tax Rates
| Variable | Florida | Alabama | Georgia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Rate | 0.10% | 0.20% (differs) | 0.04% (differs) |
| Maximum Rate | 5.40% | 5.40% | 8.10% (differs) |
| Taxable Wage Base | $7,000 | $8,000 (differs) | $9,500 (differs) |
| Most Favorable Schedule: Minimum Rate | 0.10% | 0.14% (differs) | 0.01% (differs) |
| Most Favorable Schedule: Maximum Rate | 5.40% | 5.40% | 5.40% |
| Least Favorable Schedule: Minimum Rate | 0.10% | 0.65% (differs) | 0.04% (differs) |
| Least Favorable Schedule: Maximum Rate | 5.40% | 6.80% (differs) | 8.10% (differs) |
| Employer Contributions as a Share of Total Wages | 0.12% | 0.09% (differs) | 0.19% (differs) |
| Employer Contributions as a Share of Taxable Wages | 0.83% | 0.51% (differs) | 1.07% (differs) |
| Trust Fund Solvency Ratio | 0.81 | 1.15 (differs) | 0.54 (differs) |
| New Employer Rate | 2.70% | 2.70% | 2.64% (differs) |
Unemployment Insurance Taxes: Experience Formulas and Charging Methods
| Variable | Florida | Alabama | Georgia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Experience Formula Based On | Benefits Ratio | Benefits Ratio | Reserve Ratio (differs) |
| Benefits Charged in Proportion to Base-Period Wages | Yes | Yes | No (most recent or principal employer) (differs) |
| Charged If Employee's Benefit Award Is Reversed | No | No | No |
| Charged for Reimbursements on Combined Wage Claims | Yes | Yes | No (differs) |
| Charged If Employee Left Voluntarily | No | No | No |
| Charged If Employee Was Discharged for Misconduct | No | No | No |
| Charged If Employee Refused Suitable Work | No | Yes (differs) | No |
| Charged If Employee Continues to Work Part-Time | No | No | Yes (differs) |
Unemployment Insurance Taxes: Other UI Base Variables
| Variable | Florida | Alabama | Georgia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solvency Tax | No | No | No |
| Taxes for Socialized Costs or Negative Balance Employers | No | Yes (differs) | No |
| Loan and Interest Repayment Surtaxes | Yes | Yes | No (differs) |
| Reserve Taxes | No | No | No |
| Surtaxes for UI Administration or Non-UI Purposes | No | Yes (differs) | Yes (differs) |
| Temporary Disability Insurance | No | No | No |
| Voluntary Contributions | No | No | Yes (differs) |
| Years to Qualify for Experience Rating | 2.5 | 3 (differs) | 3 (differs) |
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About the Authors
Janelle Fritts is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Tax Foundation’s Center for State Tax Policy. She is the lead researcher on the annual State Tax Competitiveness Index and serves as a resource to policymakers in their efforts to modernize and improve the structures of their state tax codes. Her work has been cited in The New York Times, the Associated Press, Bloomberg, and numerous state media outlets across the country.
Jared Walczak is a Senior Fellow at the Tax Foundation, where he spent five years as Vice President of State Projects, and president of Walczak Policy Consulting.
Nicole Fox is a Policy Analyst with the Center for State Tax Policy at the Tax Foundation, where she serves as a resource to policymakers in their efforts to modernize and improve the structure of their state tax codes.
Katherine Loughead is the Vice President of State Tax Policy at the Tax Foundation, where she oversees the state tax policy team’s research agenda and serves as a resource to policymakers in their efforts to modernize and improve the structure of their state tax codes.
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Jesse Solis is Vice President of Communications at the Tax Foundation, where he leads the communications team and works to build coverage of Tax Foundation’s experts and their work across the globe. He joined the team in 2021 as Communications Manager and became Communications Director in 2024.