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Tax year 2026 · state vs state

Alabama vs Utah Income Tax Comparison (2026)

On a $75,000 salary (single filer, 2026), you pay $1,076 less state income tax a year in Utah than in Alabama, which is about $90 a month. At $150,000 the gap is $1,451 in favor of Utah.

Alabama: up to 5%Utah: 4.5% flatUpdated October 10, 2026

Compare Alabama and Utah for your income

Estimate for education only, not tax advice. 2026 federal and state rules, standard deductions, no local taxes. How we calculate.

State comparison

Comparing 2 states, sorted by lowest overall tax rate.

1Utah

Lowest

21.1%

Overall effective tax rate

  • Net
  • Federal
  • State
  • FICA
Federal income tax
$7,670
State income tax
$2,409
Payroll tax (FICA)
$5,738
Total tax
$15,817
Net income (annual)
$59,184

2Alabama

22.5%

Overall effective tax rate

  • Net
  • Federal
  • State
  • FICA
Federal income tax
$7,670
State income tax
$3,485
Payroll tax (FICA)
$5,738
Total tax
$16,893
Net income (annual)
$58,108

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💰 Monthly breakdown

Your take-home pay, spread across the year

Utah

Monthly gross$6,250
Monthly tax$1,318
Monthly take-home$4,932

Alabama

Monthly gross$6,250
Monthly tax$1,408
Monthly take-home$4,842

Estimates use 2026 federal and state rates, the standard deduction for your filing status and no local taxes. Rankings use state income tax only.

Alabama vs Utah: how the two systems differ

AlabamaUtah
Wage income taxProgressive, 3 bracketsFlat 4.5%
Top rate5%4.5%
Lowest rate2%4.5%
Deductions and credits (single)$3,000 standard deduction, $1,500 personal exemption$966 personal credit

State income tax and take-home pay at every salary

The same salary can leave you with different take-home pay depending on the state. This table applies each state’s 2026 rules to a single filer with no pre-tax contributions.

IncomeAL state taxUT state taxDifferenceAL take-homeUT take-home
$30,000$1,235$384$851 less in Utah$25,050$25,901
$40,000$1,735$834$901 less in Utah$32,585$33,486
$50,000$2,235$1,284$951 less in Utah$40,120$41,071
$60,000$2,735$1,734$1,001 less in Utah$47,655$48,656
$75,000$3,485$2,409$1,076 less in Utah$58,108$59,184
$100,000$4,735$3,534$1,201 less in Utah$74,445$75,646
$150,000$7,235$5,784$1,451 less in Utah$106,556$108,007
$250,000$12,235$10,284$1,951 less in Utah$170,947$172,898

Single filer, 2026, federal standard deduction. Take-home is after federal, state and payroll tax. No local taxes.

Married filing jointly

IncomeAL state taxUT state taxDifferenceAL take-homeUT take-home
$75,000$3,095$1,443$1,652 less in Utah$61,528$63,180
$100,000$4,345$2,568$1,777 less in Utah$80,365$82,142
$150,000$6,845$4,818$2,027 less in Utah$116,340$118,367
$250,000$11,845$9,318$2,527 less in Utah$185,623$188,150

Married filing jointly, 2026, federal standard deduction. Uses each state's joint brackets where they differ.

Does the lower-tax state change as income rises?

Across every income from $10,000 to $1,000,000 that we tested, Utah charges the same or less state income tax than Alabama for a single filer, so there is no income level where the ranking flips.

Rates side by side

Alabama (single filers)

2%Up to $500
4%$501 to $3,000
5%Over $3,000

Utah (single filers)

4.5%Over $0

Full details for each state: Alabama income tax calculator and Utah income tax calculator. Federal rates are on the 2026 federal tax brackets page.

Alabama vs Utah FAQ

Which has lower income tax, Alabama or Utah?+

Utah is lower at $75,000: $2,409 of state income tax versus $3,485 in Alabama. At $150,000 it is $7,235 in Alabama and $5,784 in Utah. Across every income from $10,000 to $1,000,000 that we tested, Utah charges the same or less state income tax than Alabama for a single filer, so there is no income level where the ranking flips.

How much more do I keep on $100,000 in Alabama versus Utah?+

A single filer keeping $74,445 a year in Alabama would keep $75,646 in Utah after federal, state and payroll tax. The difference is $1,201 a year, or $100 a month.

How do the Alabama and Utah income tax systems differ?+

Alabama uses progressive rates up to 5%; Utah uses a flat 4.5% rate. State deductions and exemptions also differ, which changes how much income is taxed.

Are local taxes included in this Alabama vs Utah comparison?+

No. It covers federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and state income tax only. City, county, sales and property taxes are not included, and they can change the real cost of living in each state.

Should I move from Alabama to Utah to save on taxes?+

State income tax is one cost among many. Property and sales taxes, housing, insurance and wages also differ, and you may owe tax to both states in the year you move. Use this comparison as one input and confirm details with a tax professional.

Sources

Last checked October 10, 2026. Confirm with your state tax agency before filing.

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Estimates for education only, not tax, legal or financial advice. Not a substitute for a tax professional or your state revenue department.