Georgia‘s tax system ranks 26th overall on the 2025 State Tax Competitiveness Index. Georgia’s tax code includes all major tax types. The state has recently transitioned to a flat individual income tax and is gradually reducing the tax rate (currently 5.39 percent, scheduled to reach 4.99 percent by 2028), two positive developments in terms of tax competitiveness. However, the state still faces strong regional competition, as both Florida and Tennessee do not impose individual income taxes, while Alabama and North Carolina have lower rates.
Since 2024, Georgia’s corporate income tax rate has been aligned with the individual income tax rate and is set to decrease from the current 5.39 percent to 4.99 percent by 2028. However, the state does not allow first-year expensing of capital investment and imposes a nuisance capital stock tax of up to $5,000 per year. Like many states, Georgia also taxes tangible personal property. The state offers a de minimis exemption, but it is quite low.
Georgia’s state sales tax rate is relatively low at 4 percent, but localities are authorized to impose local sales taxes, with an average rate of 3.42 percent, bringing the combined rate to 7.42 percent, which is above the national average. Georgia does not impose inheritance, estate, or gift taxes.
Property taxes are the primary tool for financing local governments. While no taxpayers in high-tax jurisdictions will be celebrating their yearly payments, property taxes are largely rooted in the benefit principle of taxation: the people paying the property tax bills are most often the ones benefiting from the services.
Individual income taxes are a major source of state government revenue, accounting for more than a third of state tax collections. How do income taxes compare in your state?