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Kansas ranks 19th overall on the 2027 State Tax Competitiveness Index.

Score 5.34 / 10

Notable Changes Kansas is singled out in the study for this year's changes.

In the 2027 Index

Kansas’ ranking improved four places overall (from 23rd to 19th), including seven places on the corporate tax component and five places on the individual income tax component. These improvements were primarily attributable to Kansas’ rolling conformity to the OBBBA’s pro-growth business expensing provisions. Kansas did fall seven places, however, on the property tax component, due in part to a substantial increase in the state’s property tax collections per capita.

Snapshot date: The 2027 Index measures each state's tax law as of July 1, 2026. Changes enacted after that date are not reflected in these ranks.

About Kansas's Tax Code

Kansas has a fairly standard tax code—with few features that make it either distinctly competitive or uncompetitive—and this is reflected in the state’s ranking near the middle of the pack. Kansas’ individual and corporate income taxes both have graduated-rate structures, with brackets, a standard deduction, and a personal exemption that are not indexed for inflation. Kansas’ top marginal individual and corporate income tax rates, as well as its combined state and average local sales tax rate, are all at or above the national median.

Kansas exposes an outsized share of business income to its corporate income tax under its economically harmful throwback rule, but the state does, helpfully, conform to federal expensing and provides generous net operating loss (NOL) provisions. The Sunflower State maintains a single point of sales tax administration for its state and local sales taxes, and its state and local sales tax bases largely match, with a couple of exceptions. Additionally, most of Kansas’ excise tax rates are relatively competitive compared to those in many other states.

Kansas’ property tax split roll ratio is fairly high, with commercial properties bearing a higher share of the property tax burden compared to residential properties, but it forgoes a capital stock tax and estate or inheritance tax, ranking slightly behind the middle of the pack on this component.

In 2025, lawmakers enacted legislation using tax triggers to provide individual and corporate income tax relief and, in time, to move to single-rate income taxes. These reforms will improve the state’s performance on the Index.

Component Scores

#19 overall · 5.34 / 10

Each component is scored from 0 to 10, where 10 is best. Select a component for its detail page.

2.557.510CorporateIndividualIncomeSalesPropertyUnemploymentInsurance
Kansas Rank and Score by Component
Component Rank Score
Corporate Taxes #15 5.58 / 10
Individual Income Taxes #22 5.44 / 10
Sales Taxes #23 4.93 / 10
Property Taxes #31 4.94 / 10
Unemployment Insurance Taxes #5 5.89 / 10

Ranking Changes, 2020–2027

#19 in 2027 · up 7 places from 2020

Kansas ranked 26th in 2020 and ranks 19th in 2027, an improvement of 7 places. The axis is zoomed to the state's range. Ranks for 2020 through 2026 are backcast under the current methodology.

RankHigher is better ↑18th20th22nd24th26th28th202020212022202320242025202620272627222223242319
Show the Table
Kansas Rank and Score by Year
Year OverallCorporateIndividual IncomeSalesPropertyUnemployment Insurance
2020 26 (5.08) 28 (5.12) 22 (5.32) 34 (4.31) 24 (5.25) 11 (5.66)
2021 27 (5.08) 25 (5.16) 21 (5.33) 34 (4.32) 23 (5.22) 10 (5.67)
2022 22 (5.16) 23 (5.28) 21 (5.37) 31 (4.54) 22 (5.23) 15 (5.52)
2023 22 (5.19) 26 (5.25) 24 (5.34) 27 (4.69) 24 (5.22) 11 (5.65)
2024 23 (5.17) 26 (5.23) 25 (5.30) 26 (4.67) 24 (5.17) 5 (5.79)
2025 24 (5.20) 19 (5.42) 24 (5.32) 26 (4.64) 28 (5.04) 5 (5.82)
2026 23 (5.25) 22 (5.35) 27 (5.27) 23 (4.88) 24 (5.08) 4 (5.91)
2027 19 (5.34) 15 (5.58) 22 (5.44) 23 (4.93) 31 (4.94) 5 (5.89)

Kansas Compared across the States

#19 overall

Each row places the states on a 0 to 10 score scale for one measure. Kansas 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

#19 5.34

Corporate Taxes

#15 5.58

Individual Income Taxes

#22 5.44

Sales Taxes

#23 4.93

Property Taxes

#31 4.94

Unemployment Insurance Taxes

#5 5.89

  • Kansas
  • Other states, by rank (1st to 50th)
  • 50-state median

Kansas and Its Neighbors

#19 overall

Kansas borders 4 states and ranks 19th overall; 3 of them rank higher and 1 ranks lower.

Kansas Bordering states

What Each Component Includes

The five components of the Index, what each one covers, and where Kansas lands. Open any component for the full breakdown.

  • Corporate Taxes

    Rank #15

    Includes corporate income taxes and gross receipts taxes. Measures the impact of each state’s principal tax on business activities.

    • Corporate Income Tax Rates
    • Tax Credits and Gross Receipts Deductions
    • Net Operating Losses
    • Treatment of Capital Investment
    • Other Corporate Base Variables
    Full Breakdown for Kansas →
  • Individual Income Taxes

    Rank #22

    Covers 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.

    • Individual Income Tax Rates
    • Marriage Penalty, Capital Income, Indexation
    • Other Individual Base Variables
    Full Breakdown for Kansas →
  • Sales Taxes

    Rank #23

    Covers 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.

    • Sales and Excise Tax Rates
    • Business-to-Business Exemptions
    • Consumer Goods and Services in the Base
    • Sales Tax Structure
    Full Breakdown for Kansas →
  • Property Taxes

    Rank #31

    Includes taxes on real and personal property, net worth, and the transfer of assets — among them capital stock, estate, inheritance, and real estate transfer taxes.

    • Property and Capital Stock Tax Rates
    • Property Tax Bases
    Full Breakdown for Kansas →
  • Unemployment Insurance Taxes

    Rank #5

    Covers the taxes employers pay into the state unemployment insurance program to finance benefits for workers recently unemployed.

    • UI Tax Rates
    • Experience Formulas and Charging Methods
    • Other UI Base Variables
    Full Breakdown for Kansas →

Tax Data Explorer

Every policy variable behind Kansas'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.

151 data points · Shaded values differ from Kansas

Corporate Taxes: Corporate Income Tax Rates

VariableKansasColoradoMissouriNebraskaOklahoma
Bracket 13.5% > $04.4% > $0 (differs)4.0% > $0 (differs)4.55% > $0 (differs)4.0% > $0 (differs)
Bracket 26.5% > $50,000n.a. (differs)n.a. (differs)n.a. (differs)n.a. (differs)
Gross Receipts TaxNoNoNoNoNo

Corporate Taxes: Tax Credits and Gross Receipts Deductions

VariableKansasColoradoMissouriNebraskaOklahoma
Job CreditsYesYesYesYesYes
Research and Development CreditsYesYesYesYesNo (differs)
Investment CreditsYesYesYesYesYes
Compensation Expenses Deductiblen.a.n.a.n.a.n.a.n.a.
Cost of Goods Sold Deductiblen.a.n.a.n.a.n.a.n.a.

Corporate Taxes: Net Operating Losses

VariableKansasColoradoMissouriNebraskaOklahoma
Conforms to Federal NOL TreatmentNoNoNoNoYes (differs)
Carryback (Years)002 (differs)0Conforms to federal treatment (differs)
Carryback Cap$0$0Unlimited (differs)$0Conforms to federal treatment (differs)
Carryforward (Years)Unlimited20 (differs)20 (differs)20 (differs)Conforms to federal treatment (differs)
Carryforward CapUnlimited80% (differs)UnlimitedUnlimitedConforms to federal treatment (differs)

Corporate Taxes: Treatment of Capital Investment

VariableKansasColoradoMissouriNebraskaOklahoma
Section 168(k) Expensing100%100%100%100%100%
Conforms to Section 163(j) LimitationNoYes (differs)NoYes (differs)Yes (differs)
GILTI InclusionDecouples50% Inclusion (differs)Decouples60% Inclusion (differs)Decouples
Section 174 ExpensingYesYesYesYesYes
Section 168(n) ExpensingYesYesYesYesYes

Corporate Taxes: Other Corporate Base Variables

VariableKansasColoradoMissouriNebraskaOklahoma
Federal Income Used as State Tax BaseYesYesYesYesYes
Conformity StatusRollingRollingRollingRollingRolling
Allows Federal ACRS or MACRS DepreciationYesYesYesYesYes
Allows Federal DepletionYesYesYesYesYes
Throwback RuleYesYesNo (differs)No (differs)Yes
Foreign Tax DeductibilityNoNoYes (differs)Yes (differs)No
Corporate AMTNoNoNoNoNo
Brackets Indexed for InflationNoFlat CIT (differs)Flat CIT (differs)Flat CIT (differs)Flat CIT (differs)

Individual Income Taxes: Individual Income Tax Rates

VariableKansasColoradoMissouriNebraskaOklahoma
Bracket 15.2% > $04.4% > $0 (differs)2.0% > $1,348 (differs)2.46% > $0 (differs)2.5% > $3,750 (differs)
Bracket 25.58% > $23,000n.a. (differs)2.5% > $2,696 (differs)3.51% > $4,130 (differs)3.5% > $4,900 (differs)
Bracket 3n.a.n.a.3.0% > $4,044 (differs)4.55% > $24,760 (differs)4.5% > $7,200 (differs)
Bracket 4n.a.n.a.3.5% > $5,392 (differs)n.a.n.a.
Bracket 5n.a.n.a.4.0% > $6,740 (differs)n.a.n.a.
Bracket 6n.a.n.a.4.5% > $8,088 (differs)n.a.n.a.
Bracket 7n.a.n.a.4.7% > $9,436 (differs)n.a.n.a.
Standard Deduction (Single Filer)$3,605$16,100 (differs)$16,100 (differs)$8,850 (differs)$6,350 (differs)
Personal Exemption (Single Filer)$9,160n.a. (differs)n.a. (differs)n.a. (differs)$1,000 (differs)
Personal Exemption Credit (Single Filer)n.a.n.a.n.a.$176 (differs)n.a.
Personal Exemption per Dependent$2,320n.a. (differs)n.a. (differs)n.a. (differs)$1,000 (differs)
Personal Exemption Credit per Dependentn.a.n.a.n.a.$176 (differs)n.a.
Average Local Income Tax RateNone0.06% (differs)1.00% (differs)NoneNone
Surtaxes on Wage Incomen.a.n.a.n.a.n.a.n.a.

Individual Income Taxes: Marriage Penalty, Capital Income, Indexation

VariableKansasColoradoMissouriNebraskaOklahoma
Marriage PenaltyNoNoNoNoNo
Married Couples Can File Separately on One ReturnNoNoYes (differs)NoNo
Convenience RuleNoNoNoYes (differs)No
Interest TaxedYesYesYesYesYes
Dividends TaxedYesYesYesYesYes
Capital Gains TaxedYesYesNo (differs)YesYes
Combined Capital Gains Tax Rate5.58%4.4% (differs)0% (differs)4.55% (differs)4.5% (differs)
Tax Brackets Indexed for InflationNoYes (differs)Yes (differs)Yes (differs)No
Standard Deduction Indexed for InflationNoYes (differs)Yes (differs)Yes (differs)No
Personal Exemption Indexed for InflationNoYes (differs)Yes (differs)Yes (differs)No
Progressivity Ratio1.001.001.001.001.00

Individual Income Taxes: Other Individual Base Variables

VariableKansasColoradoMissouriNebraskaOklahoma
Federal Income Used as State Tax BaseYesYesYesYesYes
Conformity StatusRollingRollingRollingRollingRolling
Credits for Taxes Paid to Other StatesYesYesYesYesYes
AMT LeviedNoYes (differs)NoNoNo
Recognition of S Corporation StatusYesYesYesYesYes
Section 179 Expensing Limit$2,560,000$2,560,000$2,560,000$2,560,000$2,560,000
TipsTaxableExempt (differs)TaxableTaxableTaxable
OvertimeTaxableTaxableTaxableTaxableTaxable
Filing and Withholding Threshold Index000.339 (differs)00.735 (differs)

Individual Income Taxes: Other Individual Income Variables

VariableKansasColoradoMissouriNebraskaOklahoma
Income RecaptureNoNoNoNoNo

Sales Taxes: Sales and Excise Tax Rates

VariableKansasColoradoMissouriNebraskaOklahoma
State Sales Tax Rate6.50%2.90% (differs)4.23% (differs)5.50% (differs)4.50% (differs)
Average Local Sales Tax Rate2.21%4.99% (differs)4.22% (differs)1.48% (differs)4.56% (differs)
Maximum Local Sales Tax Rate4.25%9.10% (differs)6.25% (differs)2.00% (differs)7.00% (differs)
Gasoline Tax (Cents per Gallon)25.0330.18 (differs)29.99 (differs)32.70 (differs)20.00 (differs)
Diesel Tax (Cents per Gallon)27.0335.68 (differs)29.99 (differs)32.1 (differs)20 (differs)
Cigarette Tax (Dollars per Pack of 20)$1.29$2.24 (differs)$0.17 (differs)$0.64 (differs)$2.03 (differs)
Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon)$0.18$0.08 (differs)$0.06 (differs)$0.31 (differs)$0.4032 (differs)
Spirits Tax (Dollars per Gallon)$2.50$2.28 (differs)$2.00 (differs)$3.75 (differs)$5.56 (differs)
Vapor Tax Ratio to Cigarette Tax5.00%146.5333% (differs)n.a. (differs)5.00%n.a. (differs)

Sales Taxes: Business-to-Business Exemptions

VariableKansasColoradoMissouriNebraskaOklahoma
Business InputsSome TaxableSome TaxableSome TaxableSome TaxableSome Taxable
Farm EquipmentExemptExemptExemptExemptExempt
Office EquipmentTaxableTaxableTaxableTaxableTaxable
Manufacturing MachineryExemptExemptExemptExemptExempt
Manufacturing Raw MaterialsExemptExemptExemptExemptExempt
Business Fuel and UtilitiesExemptExemptExemptExemptExempt
Business Leases and RentalsTaxableTaxableTaxableTaxableTaxable
Information ServicesExemptExemptExemptExemptExempt
Software as a Service (SaaS)ExemptExemptExemptExemptExempt
Platform as a Service (PaaS)ExemptExemptExemptExemptExempt
Digital B2B ProductsExemptExemptExemptTaxable (differs)Exempt
Payroll ServicesExemptExemptExemptExemptExempt
Data Center PurchasesExemptTaxable (differs)ExemptExemptTaxable (differs)
Digital Advertising TaxNoNoNoNoNo

Sales Taxes: Consumer Goods and Services in the Base

VariableKansasColoradoMissouriNebraskaOklahoma
GroceriesLocal Tax OnlyExempt (differs)Alternate Rate (differs)Exempt (differs)Alternate Rate (differs)
ClothingTaxableTaxableTaxableTaxableTaxable
Prescription MedicationExemptExemptExemptExemptExempt
Nonprescription MedicationTaxableTaxableTaxableTaxableTaxable
GasolineExemptExemptExemptExemptExempt
LandscapingExemptExemptExemptTaxable (differs)Exempt
Repair ServicesTaxableExempt (differs)Exempt (differs)TaxableExempt (differs)
Real Estate ServicesExemptExemptExemptExemptExempt
ParkingExemptExemptExemptExemptTaxable (differs)
Dry CleaningTaxableExempt (differs)Exempt (differs)Exempt (differs)Exempt (differs)
Fitness ServicesTaxableExempt (differs)TaxableTaxableTaxable
Barber ServicesExemptExemptExemptExemptExempt
Veterinary ServicesExemptExemptExemptExemptExempt
E-BooksExemptTaxable (differs)ExemptTaxable (differs)Exempt
Streaming VideoExemptTaxable (differs)ExemptTaxable (differs)Exempt
Medical ServicesExemptExemptExemptExemptExempt
Legal ServicesExemptExemptExemptExemptExempt
Financial ServicesExemptExemptExemptExemptExempt
Accounting ServicesExemptExemptExemptExemptExempt
Sales Tax HolidayNoNoYes (differs)NoYes (differs)

Sales Taxes: Sales Tax Structure

VariableKansasColoradoMissouriNebraskaOklahoma
Uniform Base DefinitionsYesNo (differs)YesYesYes
Unified Tax AdministrationYesNo (differs)YesYesYes
Safe Harbor for Remote SellersGross Sales ThresholdGross Sales ThresholdGross Sales ThresholdSales or Transactions Threshold (differs)Gross Sales Threshold

Property Taxes: Property and Capital Stock Tax Rates

VariableKansasColoradoMissouriNebraskaOklahoma
Property Tax Collections per Capita$2,017$2,379 (differs)$1,567 (differs)$2,354 (differs)$996 (differs)
Property Tax as a Percentage of Personal Income3.06%2.88% (differs)2.41% (differs)3.24% (differs)1.56% (differs)
Assessment LimitNoNoNoNoYes (differs)
Levy LimitNoYes (differs)Yes (differs)NoNo
Capital Stock Tax RateNoneNoneNoneFixed dollar payment schedule (differs)None
Capital Stock Tax Maximum Paymentn.a.n.a.n.a.$11,995 (differs)n.a.
Payment Options for Capital Stock and Corporate Income Taxesn.a.n.a.n.a.Pay both (differs)n.a.

Property Taxes: Property Tax Bases

VariableKansasColoradoMissouriNebraskaOklahoma
Tangible Personal Property TaxYesYesYesYesYes
Tangible Personal Property De Minimis ExemptionNone$56,000 (differs)NoneNoneNone
Intangible Property TaxNoNoNoNoNo
Inventory TaxNoNoNoNoYes (differs)
Real Estate Transfer TaxNoYes (differs)NoYes (differs)Yes (differs)
Split RollYesYesYesNo (differs)No (differs)
Split Roll Ratio2.173.82 (differs)1.68 (differs)1.00 (differs)1.00 (differs)
Estate TaxNoNoNoNoNo
Inheritance TaxNoNoNo15% (differs)No
Gift TaxNoNoNoNoNo

Unemployment Insurance Taxes: UI Tax Rates

VariableKansasColoradoMissouriNebraskaOklahoma
Minimum Rate0.00%0.72% (differs)0.00%0.00%0.20% (differs)
Maximum Rate6.95%10.85% (differs)6.00% (differs)5.40% (differs)5.80% (differs)
Taxable Wage Base$15,100$30,600 (differs)$9,000 (differs)$9,000 (differs)$25,000 (differs)
Most Favorable Schedule: Minimum Rate0.20%0.51% (differs)0.00% (differs)0.00% (differs)0.01% (differs)
Most Favorable Schedule: Maximum Rate7.60%6.28% (differs)5.40% (differs)5.40% (differs)5.50% (differs)
Least Favorable Schedule: Minimum Rate0.20%0.75% (differs)0.00% (differs)0.00% (differs)0.30% (differs)
Least Favorable Schedule: Maximum Rate7.60%10.39% (differs)7.80% (differs)5.40% (differs)9.20% (differs)
Employer Contributions as a Share of Total Wages0.28%0.62% (differs)0.21% (differs)0.17% (differs)0.38% (differs)
Employer Contributions as a Share of Taxable Wages0.83%1.86% (differs)1.08% (differs)0.87% (differs)0.84% (differs)
Trust Fund Solvency Ratio1.670.4 (differs)0.7 (differs)1.31 (differs)0.84 (differs)
New Employer Rate1.75%1.70% (differs)2.70% (differs)2.50% (differs)1.50% (differs)

Unemployment Insurance Taxes: Experience Formulas and Charging Methods

VariableKansasColoradoMissouriNebraskaOklahoma
Experience Formula Based OnReserve RatioReserve RatioReserve RatioReserve RatioBenefit Wage Ratio (differs)
Benefits Charged in Proportion to Base-Period WagesYesNo (base-period employers in inverse chronological order) (differs)YesNo (base-period employers in inverse chronological order) (differs)Yes
Charged If Employee's Benefit Award Is ReversedYesNo (differs)No (differs)No (differs)No (differs)
Charged for Reimbursements on Combined Wage ClaimsYesNo (differs)YesYesYes
Charged If Employee Left VoluntarilyNoNoNoNoNo
Charged If Employee Was Discharged for MisconductNoNoNoNoNo
Charged If Employee Refused Suitable WorkYesYesNo (differs)YesNo (differs)
Charged If Employee Continues to Work Part-TimeNoNoNoNoNo

Unemployment Insurance Taxes: Other UI Base Variables

VariableKansasColoradoMissouriNebraskaOklahoma
Solvency TaxYesYesYesNo (differs)Yes
Taxes for Socialized Costs or Negative Balance EmployersNoNoNoNoNo
Loan and Interest Repayment SurtaxesNoYes (differs)Yes (differs)NoNo
Reserve TaxesNoNoNoYes (differs)No
Surtaxes for UI Administration or Non-UI PurposesNoNoYes (differs)NoYes (differs)
Temporary Disability InsuranceNoNoNoNoNo
Voluntary ContributionsYesYesYesYesNo (differs)
Years to Qualify for Experience Rating21 (differs)21 (differs)2

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About the Authors

Janelle Fritts Tax Foundation
Expert

Janelle Fritts

Senior Policy Analyst

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 Tax Foundation
Expert

Jared Walczak

Senior Fellow

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 Tax Foundation
Expert

Nicole Fox

Policy Analyst

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 Tax Foundation
Expert

Katherine Loughead

Vice President of State Tax Policy

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.