How Much the Top 1% Pay in Taxes in the South

The three richest states in America, as defined by the number of people in the top 1% who file tax returns, are California, Texas and Florida. But when it comes to how big a share of income taxes the top 1% pay in those states, Florida (53.6%) ranks second behind Wyoming (54.7%) and Texas (44.5%) is fifth.

GOBankingRates recently studied the tax return data of every state, and the South has four of the top 10 states in income tax share. Also in that quartet are Arkansas (42.2%) and Tennessee (41.0%).

Check out how much the top 1% pay in all of the Southern states.

• Total income tax share for the top 1%: 36.2%
• Average tax rate percentage for the top 1%: 23.9%
• Total income tax for the top 1%: $6,778,809,000
• Number of returns for the top 1%: 20,185

• Total income tax share for the top 1%: 42.2%
• Average tax rate percentage for the top 1%: 23.2%
• Total income tax for the top 1%: $4,814,153,000
• Number of returns for the top 1%: 12,198

• Total income tax share for the top 1%: 53.6%
• Average tax rate percentage for the top 1%: 26%
• Total income tax for the top 1%: $96,264,565,000
• Number of returns for the top 1%: 105,101

• Total income tax share for the top 1%: 38.3%
• Average tax rate percentage for the top 1%: 25.8%
• Total income tax for the top 1%: $21,001,340,000
• Number of returns for the top 1%: 46,220

• Total income tax share for the top 1%: 34.3%
• Average tax rate percentage for the top 1%: 24.7%
• Total income tax for the top 1%: $5,451,182,000
• Number of returns for the top 1%: 18,395

• Total income tax share for the top 1%: 38.7%
• Average tax rate percentage for the top 1%: 26%
• Total income tax for the top 1%: $6,806,423,000
• Number of returns for the top 1%: 18,593

• Total income tax share for the top 1%: 38.3%
• Average tax rate percentage for the top 1%: 24.4%
• Total income tax for the top 1%: $3,297,109,000
• Number of returns for the top 1%: 11,731

• Total income tax share for the top 1%: 35.3%
• Average tax rate percentage for the top 1%: 25.7%
• Total income tax for the top 1%: $19,037,365,000
• Number of returns for the top 1%: 46,525

• Total income tax share for the top 1%: 37.8%
• Average tax rate percentage for the top 1%: 24.6%
• Total income tax for the top 1%: $5,622,529,000
• Number of returns for the top 1%: 16,106

• Total income tax share for the top 1%: 37.1%
• Average tax rate percentage for the top 1%: 25.4%
• Total income tax for the top 1%: $8,867,845,000
• Number of returns for the top 1%: 23,203

• Total income tax share for the top 1%: 41%
• Average tax rate percentage for the top 1%: 25.8%
• Total income tax for the top 1%: $14,547,566,000
• Number of returns for the top 1%: 30,531

• Total income tax share for the top 1%: 44.5%
• Average tax rate percentage for the top 1%: 26.7%
• Total income tax for the top 1%: $81,990,700,000
• Number of returns for the top 1%: 128,130

• Total income tax share for the top 1%: 32.9%
• Average tax rate percentage for the top 1%: 25.9%
• Total income tax for the top 1%: $19,239,261,000
• Number of returns for the top 1%: 39,103

• Total income tax share for the top 1%: 30.3%
• Average tax rate percentage for the top 1%: 24.8%
• Total income tax for the top 1%: $1,647,747,000
• Number of returns for the top 1%: 7,316

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed individual tax returns by state to find out how much the top 1% pay in taxes. Using data from the IRS SOI tax stats, the individual tax rates by income percentiles and by state were included. All data was collected on and is up to date as of March 6, 2025.