-
Overall Rank
29
Up 6 places since 2026 -
23
Up 7 places since 2026 -
24
Up 5 places since 2026 -
33
No change since 2026 -
22
Down 5 places since 2026 -
Unemployment Insurance Tax Rank
23
Up 1 place since 2026
West Virginia ranks 29th overall on the 2027 State Tax Competitiveness Index.
Score 5.09 / 10
Notable Changes West Virginia is singled out in the study for this year's changes.
In the 2027 Index
West Virginia’s ranking improved six places overall (from 35th to 29th), including seven places on the corporate component and five places on the individual component, due to the state’s conformity to the OBBBA’s business expensing provisions. However, West Virginia fell five places on the property tax component due to changes that exacerbated the state’s property tax split roll ratio, shifting more of the property tax burden onto commercial properties, and due to an 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 West Virginia's Tax Code
West Virginia ranks near the middle of the pack on the Index, with some competitive elements and others that could use improvement. The Mountain State recently reduced its individual income tax rates, with a current top rate of 4.58 percent. The legislature has adopted revenue triggers that will continue to phase in rate reductions subject to revenue availability. West Virginia has a 6.5 percent corporate income tax rate, which is lower than those of neighboring Maryland and Pennsylvania but higher than those of Kentucky and Virginia. Some West Virginia localities also impose gross receipts taxes, called business & occupation taxes. In the future, if the state chooses to forgo distortive tax credits for jobs, R&D, and investments, a lower tax rate on all corporate income could be achieved. West Virginia does benefit, however, by conforming to the federal bonus depreciation allowance under Section 168(k) and the federal treatment of net operating losses (NOLs).
West Virginia has a relatively competitive sales tax rate and a low effective property tax rate on owner-occupied housing. However, West Virginia’s taxes on tangible personal property create distortions, especially its harmful taxes on business inventory. Furthermore, West Virginia maintains a split roll treatment of property, under which commercial and industrial property are taxed at higher rates than owner-occupied residential property. This non-neutral tax treatment distorts investment decisions and allows policymakers to increase taxes on certain types of property without being seen as raising taxes on homeowners.
Component Scores
#29 overall · 5.09 / 10Each component is scored from 0 to 10, where 10 is best. Select a component for its detail page.
| Component | Rank | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corporate Taxes | #23 | 5.33 / 10 | |
| Individual Income Taxes | #24 | 5.38 / 10 | |
| Sales Taxes | #33 | 4.35 / 10 | |
| Property Taxes | #22 | 5.13 / 10 | |
| Unemployment Insurance Taxes | #23 | 5.19 / 10 |
Ranking Changes, 2020–2027
#29 in 2027 · unchanged from 2020West Virginia ranked 29th in 2020 and ranks 29th 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 | 29 (5.01) | 22 (5.30) | 31 (4.97) | 25 (4.82) | 26 (5.18) | 31 (4.78) |
| 2021 | 30 (4.98) | 22 (5.29) | 34 (4.86) | 25 (4.78) | 27 (5.17) | 30 (4.90) |
| 2022 | 24 (5.15) | 21 (5.31) | 31 (5.03) | 16 (5.21) | 20 (5.28) | 29 (4.92) |
| 2023 | 24 (5.18) | 21 (5.34) | 31 (5.07) | 20 (4.97) | 17 (5.32) | 16 (5.39) |
| 2024 | 30 (5.10) | 23 (5.29) | 28 (5.21) | 30 (4.52) | 20 (5.27) | 17 (5.37) |
| 2025 | 32 (5.03) | 29 (5.17) | 30 (5.15) | 30 (4.53) | 20 (5.25) | 24 (5.16) |
| 2026 | 35 (4.99) | 30 (5.10) | 29 (5.18) | 33 (4.33) | 17 (5.25) | 24 (5.19) |
| 2027 | 29 (5.09) | 23 (5.33) | 24 (5.38) | 33 (4.35) | 22 (5.13) | 23 (5.19) |
West Virginia Compared across the States
#29 overallEach row places the states on a 0 to 10 score scale for one measure. West Virginia 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
#29 5.09
Corporate Taxes
#23 5.33
Individual Income Taxes
#24 5.38
Sales Taxes
#33 4.35
Property Taxes
#22 5.13
Unemployment Insurance Taxes
#23 5.19
- West Virginia
- Other states, by rank (1st to 50th)
- 50-state median
West Virginia and Its Neighbors
#29 overallWest Virginia borders 5 states and ranks 29th overall; 1 of them ranks higher and 4 rank lower.
-
Kentucky #26 Score 5.20 3 places better -
West Virginia #29 Score 5.09 This state -
Pennsylvania #30 Score 5.04 1 place behind -
Virginia #31 Score 5.02 2 places behind -
Ohio #36 Score 4.85 7 places behind -
Maryland #44 Score 4.35 15 places behind
What Each Component Includes
The five components of the Index, what each one covers, and where West Virginia lands. Open any component for the full breakdown.
-
Corporate Taxes
Rank #23Includes corporate income taxes and gross receipts taxes. Measures the impact of each state’s principal tax on business activities.
Full Breakdown for West Virginia → -
Individual Income Taxes
Rank #24Covers 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 West Virginia → -
Sales Taxes
Rank #33Covers 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 West Virginia → -
Property Taxes
Rank #22Includes 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 West Virginia → -
Unemployment Insurance Taxes
Rank #23Covers the taxes employers pay into the state unemployment insurance program to finance benefits for workers recently unemployed.
Full Breakdown for West Virginia →
Tax Data Explorer
Every policy variable behind West Virginia'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.
156 data points · Shaded values differ from West Virginia
Corporate Taxes: Corporate Income Tax Rates
| Variable | West Virginia | Kentucky | Maryland | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bracket 1 | 6.5% > $0 | 5.0% > $0 (differs) | 8.25% > $0 (differs) | None (differs) | 7.49% > $0 (differs) | 6.0% > $0 (differs) |
| Gross Receipts Tax | No | No | No | Yes (differs) | No | No |
| Gross Receipts Tax Minimum Rate | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | 0.26% (differs) | n.a. | n.a. |
| Gross Receipts Tax Maximum Rate | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | 0.26% (differs) | n.a. | n.a. |
| Gross Receipts Tax Rate Used in the Index | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | 0.26% (differs) | n.a. | n.a. |
Corporate Taxes: Tax Credits and Gross Receipts Deductions
| Variable | West Virginia | Kentucky | Maryland | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Job Credits | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No (differs) |
| Research and Development Credits | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Investment Credits | Yes | Yes | No (differs) | Yes | Yes | No (differs) |
| Compensation Expenses Deductible | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | No (differs) | n.a. | n.a. |
| Cost of Goods Sold Deductible | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | No (differs) | n.a. | n.a. |
Corporate Taxes: Net Operating Losses
| Variable | West Virginia | Kentucky | Maryland | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conforms to Federal NOL Treatment | Yes | Yes | Yes | n.a. (differs) | No (differs) | Yes |
| Carryback (Years) | Conforms to federal treatment | Conforms to federal treatment | Conforms to federal treatment | n.a. (differs) | 0 (differs) | Conforms to federal treatment |
| Carryback Cap | Conforms to federal treatment | Conforms to federal treatment | Conforms to federal treatment | n.a. (differs) | $0 (differs) | Conforms to federal treatment |
| Carryforward (Years) | Conforms to federal treatment | Conforms to federal treatment | Conforms to federal treatment | n.a. (differs) | 20 (differs) | Conforms to federal treatment |
| Carryforward Cap | Conforms to federal treatment | Conforms to federal treatment | Conforms to federal treatment | n.a. (differs) | 50% of Liability (differs) | Conforms to federal treatment |
Corporate Taxes: Treatment of Capital Investment
| Variable | West Virginia | Kentucky | Maryland | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section 168(k) Expensing | 100% | 0% (differs) | 0% (differs) | 100% | 0% (differs) | 0% (differs) |
| Conforms to Section 163(j) Limitation | Yes | Yes | Yes | No (differs) | Yes | Yes |
| GILTI Inclusion | 50% Inclusion | Decouples (differs) | 50% Inclusion | n.a. (differs) | Decouples (differs) | Decouples (differs) |
| Section 174 Expensing | Yes | No (differs) | Yes | Yes | No (differs) | No (differs) |
| Section 168(n) Expensing | Yes | No (differs) | No (differs) | Yes | No (differs) | No (differs) |
Corporate Taxes: Other Corporate Base Variables
| Variable | West Virginia | Kentucky | Maryland | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Income Used as State Tax Base | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Conformity Status | Static (current) | Static (current) | Rolling (differs) | Static (current) | Rolling (differs) | Static (current) |
| Allows Federal ACRS or MACRS Depreciation | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Allows Federal Depletion | Yes | Yes | Partial (differs) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Throwback Rule | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Foreign Tax Deductibility | No | No | Yes (differs) | Yes (differs) | No | No |
| Corporate AMT | No | Yes (differs) | No | No | No | No |
| Brackets Indexed for Inflation | Flat CIT | Flat CIT | Flat CIT | GRT (differs) | Flat CIT | Flat CIT |
Individual Income Taxes: Individual Income Tax Rates
| Variable | West Virginia | Kentucky | Maryland | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bracket 1 | 2.11% > $0 | 3.5% > $0 (differs) | 2.0% > $0 (differs) | 2.75% > $26,050 (differs) | 3.07% > $0 (differs) | 2.0% > $0 (differs) |
| Bracket 2 | 2.81% > $10,000 | n.a. (differs) | 3.0% > $1,000 (differs) | n.a. (differs) | n.a. (differs) | 3.0% > $3,000 (differs) |
| Bracket 3 | 3.16% > $25,000 | n.a. (differs) | 4.0% > $2,000 (differs) | n.a. (differs) | n.a. (differs) | 5.0% > $5,000 (differs) |
| Bracket 4 | 4.22% > $40,000 | n.a. (differs) | 4.75% > $3,000 (differs) | n.a. (differs) | n.a. (differs) | 5.75% > $17,000 (differs) |
| Bracket 5 | 4.58% > $60,000 | n.a. (differs) | 5.0% > $100,000 (differs) | n.a. (differs) | n.a. (differs) | n.a. (differs) |
| Bracket 6 | n.a. | n.a. | 5.25% > $125,000 (differs) | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. |
| Bracket 7 | n.a. | n.a. | 5.5% > $150,000 (differs) | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. |
| Bracket 8 | n.a. | n.a. | 5.75% > $250,000 (differs) | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. |
| Bracket 9 | n.a. | n.a. | 6.25% > $500,000 (differs) | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. |
| Bracket 10 | n.a. | n.a. | 6.5% > $1,000,000 (differs) | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. |
| Standard Deduction (Single Filer) | n.a. | $3,360 (differs) | $3,350 (differs) | n.a. | n.a. | $8,750 (differs) |
| Personal Exemption (Single Filer) | $2,000 | n.a. (differs) | $3,200 (differs) | $2,400 (differs) | n.a. (differs) | $930 (differs) |
| Personal Exemption Credit (Single Filer) | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. |
| Personal Exemption per Dependent | $2,000 | n.a. (differs) | $3,200 (differs) | $2,400 (differs) | n.a. (differs) | $930 (differs) |
| Personal Exemption Credit per Dependent | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. |
| Average Local Income Tax Rate | 0.42% | 2.25% (differs) | 3.20% (differs) | 2.50% (differs) | 3.37% (differs) | None (differs) |
| Surtaxes on Wage Income | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. |
Individual Income Taxes: Marriage Penalty, Capital Income, Indexation
| Variable | West Virginia | Kentucky | Maryland | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marriage Penalty | Yes | No (differs) | Yes | Yes | No (differs) | Yes |
| Married Couples Can File Separately on One Return | Yes | Yes | No (differs) | No (differs) | No (differs) | No (differs) |
| Convenience Rule | No | No | No | No | Yes (differs) | No |
| Interest Taxed | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dividends Taxed | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Capital Gains Taxed | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Combined Capital Gains Tax Rate | 4.58% | 3.5% (differs) | 11.7% (differs) | 3.125% (differs) | 3.07% (differs) | 5.75% (differs) |
| Tax Brackets Indexed for Inflation | No | Yes (differs) | No | No | Yes (differs) | No |
| Standard Deduction Indexed for Inflation | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No (differs) |
| Personal Exemption Indexed for Inflation | No | Yes (differs) | No | No | Yes (differs) | No |
| Progressivity Ratio | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.37 (differs) | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
Individual Income Taxes: Other Individual Base Variables
| Variable | West Virginia | Kentucky | Maryland | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Income Used as State Tax Base | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No (differs) | Yes |
| Conformity Status | Static (current) | Static (current) | Rolling (differs) | Static (current) | Static (not current) (differs) | Static (current) |
| Credits for Taxes Paid to Other States | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| AMT Levied | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Recognition of S Corporation Status | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Section 179 Expensing Limit | $2,560,000 | $100,000 (differs) | $25,000 (differs) | $446,667 (differs) | $1,250,000 (differs) | $1,250,000 (differs) |
| Tips | Taxable | Taxable | Taxable | Taxable | Taxable | Taxable |
| Overtime | Taxable | Taxable | Taxable | Taxable | Taxable | Taxable |
| Filing and Withholding Threshold Index | 5 | 0 (differs) | 0 (differs) | 0.169 (differs) | 0 (differs) | 0 (differs) |
Individual Income Taxes: Other Individual Income Variables
| Variable | West Virginia | Kentucky | Maryland | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income Recapture | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Sales Taxes: Sales and Excise Tax Rates
| Variable | West Virginia | Kentucky | Maryland | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Sales Tax Rate | 6.00% | 6.00% | 6.00% | 5.75% (differs) | 6.00% | 5.30% (differs) |
| Average Local Sales Tax Rate | 0.60% | 0.00% (differs) | 0.00% (differs) | 1.54% (differs) | 0.34% (differs) | 0.47% (differs) |
| Maximum Local Sales Tax Rate | 1.40% | None (differs) | None (differs) | 2.25% (differs) | 2.00% (differs) | 2.70% (differs) |
| Gasoline Tax (Cents per Gallon) | 35.70 | 26.40 (differs) | 46.81 (differs) | 38.50 (differs) | 58.70 (differs) | 42.40 (differs) |
| Diesel Tax (Cents per Gallon) | 35.7 | 23.4 (differs) | 47.66 (differs) | 47 (differs) | 74.1 (differs) | 43.5 (differs) |
| Cigarette Tax (Dollars per Pack of 20) | $1.20 | $1.103 (differs) | $5.00 (differs) | $1.60 (differs) | $2.60 (differs) | $0.60 (differs) |
| Beer Tax (Dollars per Gallon) | $0.1774 | $0.8906 (differs) | $0.60 (differs) | $0.18 (differs) | $0.08 (differs) | $0.2565 (differs) |
| Spirits Tax (Dollars per Gallon) | $8.98 | $9.56 (differs) | $5.46 (differs) | $12.33 (differs) | $7.48 (differs) | $23.47 (differs) |
| Vapor Tax Ratio to Cigarette Tax | 7.50% | 83.3333% (differs) | 214.305% (differs) | 10.00% (differs) | 104.6667% (differs) | 11.00% (differs) |
Sales Taxes: Business-to-Business Exemptions
| Variable | West Virginia | Kentucky | Maryland | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Inputs | Some Taxable | Some Taxable | Some Taxable | Some Taxable | Some Taxable | Some Taxable |
| Farm Equipment | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt |
| Office Equipment | Taxable | Taxable | Taxable | Taxable | Taxable | Taxable |
| Manufacturing Machinery | Exempt | Partial (differs) | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt |
| Manufacturing Raw Materials | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt |
| Business Fuel and Utilities | Taxable | Exempt (differs) | Exempt (differs) | Exempt (differs) | Exempt (differs) | Exempt (differs) |
| Business Leases and Rentals | Taxable | Taxable | Taxable | Taxable | Taxable | Taxable |
| Information Services | Taxable | Exempt (differs) | Taxable | Taxable | Exempt (differs) | Exempt (differs) |
| Software as a Service (SaaS) | Taxable | Taxable | Partial (differs) | Taxable | Taxable | Exempt (differs) |
| Platform as a Service (PaaS) | Taxable | Taxable | Partial (differs) | Taxable | Taxable | Exempt (differs) |
| Digital B2B Products | Taxable | Taxable | Taxable | Taxable | Exempt (differs) | Exempt (differs) |
| Payroll Services | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Taxable (differs) | Exempt | Exempt |
| Data Center Purchases | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Taxable (differs) | Exempt | Exempt |
| Digital Advertising Tax | No | No | Yes (differs) | No | No | No |
Sales Taxes: Consumer Goods and Services in the Base
| Variable | West Virginia | Kentucky | Maryland | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Groceries | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Local Tax Only (differs) |
| Clothing | Taxable | Taxable | Taxable | Taxable | Exempt (differs) | Taxable |
| Prescription Medication | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt |
| Nonprescription Medication | Taxable | Taxable | Exempt (differs) | Taxable | Exempt (differs) | Exempt (differs) |
| Gasoline | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt |
| Landscaping | Taxable | Taxable | Exempt (differs) | Taxable | Taxable | Exempt (differs) |
| Repair Services | Taxable | Exempt (differs) | Exempt (differs) | Taxable | Taxable | Exempt (differs) |
| Real Estate Services | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt |
| Parking | Taxable | Taxable | Exempt (differs) | Exempt (differs) | Exempt (differs) | Exempt (differs) |
| Dry Cleaning | Taxable | Taxable | Exempt (differs) | Taxable | Exempt (differs) | Exempt (differs) |
| Fitness Services | Exempt | Taxable (differs) | Exempt | Taxable (differs) | Exempt | Exempt |
| Barber Services | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt |
| Veterinary Services | Exempt | Taxable (differs) | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt |
| E-Books | Exempt | Taxable (differs) | Taxable (differs) | Taxable (differs) | Taxable (differs) | Exempt |
| Streaming Video | Exempt | Exempt | Taxable (differs) | Taxable (differs) | Taxable (differs) | Exempt |
| Medical Services | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt |
| Legal Services | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt |
| Financial Services | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt |
| Accounting Services | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt |
| Sales Tax Holiday | Yes | No (differs) | Yes | Yes | No (differs) | Yes |
Sales Taxes: Sales Tax Structure
| Variable | West Virginia | Kentucky | Maryland | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uniform Base Definitions | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Unified Tax Administration | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Safe Harbor for Remote Sellers | Sales or Transactions Threshold | Sales or Transactions Threshold | Sales or Transactions Threshold | Sales or Transactions Threshold | Gross Sales Threshold (differs) | Sales or Transactions Threshold |
Property Taxes: Property and Capital Stock Tax Rates
| Variable | West Virginia | Kentucky | Maryland | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Property Tax Collections per Capita | $1,258 | $1,118 (differs) | $1,982 (differs) | $1,688 (differs) | $1,806 (differs) | $2,296 (differs) |
| Property Tax as a Percentage of Personal Income | 2.27% | 1.92% (differs) | 2.49% (differs) | 2.61% (differs) | 2.55% (differs) | 2.97% (differs) |
| Assessment Limit | No | No | Yes (differs) | No | No | No |
| Levy Limit | Yes | No (differs) | No (differs) | Yes | No (differs) | No (differs) |
| Capital Stock Tax Rate | None | None | None | None | None | None |
| Capital Stock Tax Maximum Payment | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. |
| Payment Options for Capital Stock and Corporate Income Taxes | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. |
Property Taxes: Property Tax Bases
| Variable | West Virginia | Kentucky | Maryland | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tangible Personal Property Tax | Yes | Yes | Yes | No (differs) | No (differs) | Yes |
| Tangible Personal Property De Minimis Exemption | None | $1,000 (differs) | $20,000 (differs) | n.a. (differs) | n.a. (differs) | None |
| Intangible Property Tax | No | Yes (differs) | No | No | No | No |
| Inventory Tax | Yes | Yes | Partial (differs) | No (differs) | No (differs) | Partial (differs) |
| Real Estate Transfer Tax | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Split Roll | Yes | No (differs) | No (differs) | No (differs) | No (differs) | No (differs) |
| Split Roll Ratio | 4.00 | 1.00 (differs) | 1.00 (differs) | 1.00 (differs) | 1.00 (differs) | 1.00 (differs) |
| Estate Tax | No | No | 16% (differs) | No | No | No |
| Inheritance Tax | No | 16% (differs) | 10% (differs) | No | 15% (differs) | No |
| Gift Tax | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Unemployment Insurance Taxes: UI Tax Rates
| Variable | West Virginia | Kentucky | Maryland | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Rate | 1.50% | 0.30% (differs) | 0.31% (differs) | 0.55% (differs) | 1.42% (differs) | 0.10% (differs) |
| Maximum Rate | 8.50% | 9.00% (differs) | 7.50% (differs) | 10.25% (differs) | 10.37% (differs) | 6.20% (differs) |
| Taxable Wage Base | $9,500 | $12,000 (differs) | $8,500 (differs) | $9,000 (differs) | $10,000 (differs) | $8,000 (differs) |
| Most Favorable Schedule: Minimum Rate | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.30% (differs) | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Most Favorable Schedule: Maximum Rate | 7.50% | 9.00% (differs) | 7.50% | 6.30% (differs) | 8.95% (differs) | 5.40% (differs) |
| Least Favorable Schedule: Minimum Rate | 1.50% | 1.00% (differs) | 2.20% (differs) | 0.30% (differs) | 0.00% (differs) | 0.10% (differs) |
| Least Favorable Schedule: Maximum Rate | 7.50% | 10.00% (differs) | 13.50% (differs) | 6.70% (differs) | 8.95% (differs) | 6.20% (differs) |
| Employer Contributions as a Share of Total Wages | 0.51% | 0.37% (differs) | 0.18% (differs) | 0.42% (differs) | 0.58% (differs) | 0.08% (differs) |
| Employer Contributions as a Share of Taxable Wages | 2.40% | 1.62% (differs) | 1.33% (differs) | 2.44% (differs) | 3.40% (differs) | 0.56% (differs) |
| Trust Fund Solvency Ratio | 0.81 | 0.7 (differs) | 1.04 (differs) | 0.43 (differs) | 0.22 (differs) | 0.71 (differs) |
| New Employer Rate | 2.70% | 2.70% | 1.00% (differs) | 2.70% | 3.82% (differs) | 2.73% (differs) |
Unemployment Insurance Taxes: Experience Formulas and Charging Methods
| Variable | West Virginia | Kentucky | Maryland | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Experience Formula Based On | Reserve Ratio | Reserve Ratio | Benefits Ratio (differs) | Reserve Ratio | Benefits Ratio (differs) | Benefits Ratio (differs) |
| Benefits Charged in Proportion to Base-Period Wages | Yes | No (most recent or principal employer) (differs) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No (most recent or principal employer) (differs) |
| Charged If Employee's Benefit Award Is Reversed | No | No | No | No | No | Yes (differs) |
| Charged for Reimbursements on Combined Wage Claims | Yes | No (differs) | Yes | No (differs) | No (differs) | No (differs) |
| Charged If Employee Left Voluntarily | No | No | No | No | No | Yes (differs) |
| Charged If Employee Was Discharged for Misconduct | No | No | No | No | No | Yes (differs) |
| Charged If Employee Refused Suitable Work | Yes | No (differs) | Yes | No (differs) | Yes | Yes |
| Charged If Employee Continues to Work Part-Time | No | No | No | No | No | Yes (differs) |
Unemployment Insurance Taxes: Other UI Base Variables
| Variable | West Virginia | Kentucky | Maryland | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solvency Tax | No | No | No | Yes (differs) | Yes (differs) | Yes (differs) |
| Taxes for Socialized Costs or Negative Balance Employers | Yes | No (differs) | No (differs) | Yes | No (differs) | Yes |
| Loan and Interest Repayment Surtaxes | Yes | Yes | No (differs) | No (differs) | Yes | No (differs) |
| Reserve Taxes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Surtaxes for UI Administration or Non-UI Purposes | No | Yes (differs) | Yes (differs) | Yes (differs) | No | No |
| Temporary Disability Insurance | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Voluntary Contributions | Yes | Yes | No (differs) | Yes | Yes | No (differs) |
| Years to Qualify for Experience Rating | 3 | 3 | 2 (differs) | 1.5 (differs) | 1.5 (differs) | 1 (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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