There are 9 US states with no income tax, but 2 of them still tax investment earnings

Most Americans file a state income tax return and a federal income tax return.
If you live in one of nine states with no income tax, you may not need to file a state return.
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Tax day 2020 is Wednesday, April 15.

If you owe at least $5 in federal income taxes, you have to file a federal tax return. Some people, however, are off the hook when it comes to filing a state tax return.

That's because seven US states don't impose state income tax Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming.

New Hampshire and Tennessee don't tax earned income either, but they do tax investment income in the form of interest and dividends at 5% and 2%, respectively. If you live in either state and received income from your investments, you may need to file a state return .

The other 41 states have either a flat income tax meaning everyone, regardless of how much they earn, pays the same percentage of their income to the government or a progressive income tax , which means your tax rate is determined by your income.

top income tax rate Ruobing Su/Business Insider

But living in a state with no income tax doesn't necessarily mean you're getting off scot-free. Texas and New Hampshire, for instance, may not tax your earnings, but they do have some ofthe highest property tax rates in the country, which could ding you if you're a property owner.

Likewise, Tennessee doesn't tax your paycheck, but it will get you in the checkout line. The state has one ofthe highest sales tax rates in the country at 7%.

Still, everyone is subject to federal income taxes regardless of where you live. How much you pay depends on how much you earn, also known as your tax bracket . In 2018, about 76 million Americans didn't owe federal income tax because their earnings were too low.

After you file your taxes, you may get a state tax refund or a federal tax refund or both if you live in a state that taxes income. The IRS says the fastest way to get your tax refund is the method already used by most taxpayers: filing electronically and selecting direct deposit as the method for receiving your refund.

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There are 9 US states with no income tax, but 2 of them still tax investment earnings

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