Who Pays the Most Taxes in Pennsylvania?

In Pennsylvania, a small group of high earners is shouldering a significant part of the tax load.

The Top 1% in Pennsylvania

• Households: ~58,541
• Average Income: Over $1.7 million per year
• Total Income Share: 18.42% of the state's total income

These wealthy households also pay a large chunk of the state's personal income taxes:

• Tax Contribution: 35.09% of all personal income taxes
• Total Taxes Paid: Over $26.1 billion

National Perspective

This situation is not unique to Pennsylvania. Across the U.S.:

• Top 1% Income Share: ~19.5% of all income
• Top 1% Tax Contribution: 37% of total income taxes

State Comparisons

Some states have even higher concentrations of tax payments from the wealthiest:

• Wyoming: Top 1% pays 54.67% of income taxes
• Florida & Nevada: Top earners pay over 50% of state income taxes
• Pennsylvania's Rank: 30th in the U.S. for the percentage of income taxes paid by the top 1%

Implications

This data raises questions about tax fairness and the burden on high earners. While the top 1% pays a significant portion of taxes, they also earn a large share of the income. This dynamic is crucial for understanding how tax policies impact different groups.