Policy Matters Ohio: Ohio state and local taxes hit poor and middle class the hardest
ITEP Work in ActionLow- and middle-income Ohioans pay a much greater share of their income in state and local taxes than the state’s most affluent do, according to a study released today.
The top 1 percent of non-elderly Ohio families by income, who earned at least $356,000 in 2012, on average pay 7 percent of their income in state and local income, property, sales and excise taxes. By contrast, the lowest fifth, who make less than $18,000, on average pay 11.7 percent. Families in the middle fifth of the income spectrum, who make between $34,000 and $52,000, on average pay 10.6 percent. These differences are even larger if you take into account that state and local taxes may be deducted from federal taxes.