Rhode Island

This variable includes local taxes, if any, and any impact of federal deductibility, if allowed. A state’s largest city is used as a proxy for local tax rates. Data were drawn from Tax Analysts, Federation of Tax Administrators and individual state tax return forms. Tax rates are as of January 1, 2024.

This variable includes local taxes, if any, and includes the effect of federal deductibility, if allowed. A state’s largest city is used as a proxy for local tax rates. In the case of gross receipts or business franchise taxes, an effective tax rate is approximated using NIPA profits, rental and proprietor’s income and gross domestic product data. For an explanation of the estimation of Texas’ franchise tax, see note below. The Texas franchise tax is not a traditional gross receipts tax, but is instead a “margin” tax with more than one rate. A margin tax creates less distortion than a gross receipts tax. Therefore, we believe the best measurement for an effective corporate tax rate for Texas is to average the 4.5648 percent measure we would use if the tax were a gross receipts tax and the 0.75 percent highest rate on its margin tax, leading to our measure of 2.66 percent. Data were drawn from Tax Analysts, Federation of Tax Administrators, individual state tax return forms and the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Tax rates are as of January 1, 2024.

This variable is measured as the difference between the average tax liability per $1,000, at incomes of $50,000 and $150,000. The tax liabilities are measured using a combination of effective tax rates, exemptions, and deductions at both state and federal levels, which are calculations from Laffer Associates. Tax rates are as of January 1, 2024.

This variable is calculated by taking tax revenues from state and local property taxes per $1,000 of personal income. We have used U.S. Census Bureau data, for which the most recent year available is 2021. These data were released in October 2022.

This variable is calculated by taking tax revenues from state and local sales taxes per $1,000 of personal income. Sales taxes taken into consideration include the general sales tax and specific sales taxes. We use U.S. Census Bureau Data, for which the most recent year available is 2021. Where appropriate, gross receipts or business franchise taxes, counted as sales taxes in the Census data, are subtracted from a state’s total sales taxes in order to avoid double-counting tax burden in a state. These data were released in October 2022.

This variable is calculated by taking tax revenues from state and local taxes — excluding personal income, corporate income (including corporate license), property, sales and severance per $1,000 of personal income. We use U.S. Census Bureau Data, for which the most recent year available is 2021. These data were released in October 2022.

This variable calculates each state’s relative change in tax burden over a two-year period (in this case, the 2022 and 2023 legislative sessions) for the next fiscal year, using revenue estimates of legislated tax changes per $1,000 of personal income. Personal income data are drawn from 2022. This timeframe ensures that tax changes will still be reflected in a state’s ranking despite lags in the tax revenue data. ALEC and Laffer Associates calculations use raw data from state legislative fiscal notes, state budget offices, state revenue offices and other sources, including the National Conference of State Legislators.

This variable calculates interest paid on state and local debt as a percentage of state and local total tax revenue. This information comes from 2021 U.S. Census Bureau data. These data were released in October 2022.

This variable shows the full-time equivalent state and local public employees per 10,000 of population. This information comes from 2022 U.S. Census Bureau data. These data were released in June 2022.

This variable ranks tort systems by state. Information comes from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform 2019 Lawsuit Climate Survey.

This variable indicates minimum wage enforced on a state-by-state basis. If a state does not have a minimum wage, we use the federal minimum wage floor of $7.25 per hour. This information comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, as of January 1, 2024.

This variable highlights the 2022 Workers’ Compensation Index Rate (cost per $100 of payroll). This survey is conducted biennially by the Oregon Department of Consumer & Business Services, Information Management Division.

This variable measures the influence of tax and expenditure limits on state tax revenue and spending. States were ranked by the effectiveness of state tax or expenditure limits in place according to the ALEC Fiscal Rules Project. Information was sourced from state constitutions and statutes.