Rhode Island tax burden — broken down.
Rhode Island’s combined tax burden (income + property + sales) lands at 14.62% on our composite — ranking #10 of 51 jurisdictions. The top marginal individual income tax rate is 5.99%.
Rhode Island burden, broken into 3 components
| Component | Rhode Island rate | National median |
|---|---|---|
| Top marginal income | 5.99% | ~5.30% |
| Effective property | 1.63% | ~1.07% |
| State sales tax | 7.00% | ~5.50% |
| Combined composite | 14.62% | ~11.87% |
National medians from CalcFi’s 51-state composite. Top marginal is the headline single-filer rate, NOT the effective rate most households actually pay.
Retirement + Social Security in Rhode Island
Rhode Island taxes most retirement income (pensions, IRA / 401(k) distributions). Social Security benefits are NOT taxed by Rhode Island. Federal taxation of these income sources is unchanged regardless of state.
How Rhode Island compares
Of all 51 US jurisdictions ranked by combined burden composite, Rhode Island sits at #10. That puts Rhode Island in the top 10 highest-burden states — relocation candidates often look at the bottom-10 list (WY, SD, TN, AK, NH). For the live cross-state heat map, see the interactive tax burden map.
Rhode Island metros — local tax overlay
State rates are uniform across Rhode Island— but local income, property, and sales taxes vary. Click any metro to run the full income tax calculator pre-populated with that city’s local layer.
More Rhode Island metros coming as we expand city coverage.
Rhode Island tax — common questions
What is the Rhode Island top marginal income tax rate in 2025?
Rhode Island's top marginal individual income tax rate is 5.99% on the highest bracket.
What is the Rhode Island effective property tax rate?
Rhode Island's statewide effective property tax rate is 1.63% of home value (annual). On a $400,000 home that's roughly $6,520/yr. Local variation can be ±0.5pp.
Does Rhode Island tax retirement income or Social Security?
Rhode Island taxes most retirement income, and does NOT tax Social Security benefits.
Are there any Rhode Island-specific tax quirks I should know about?
RI has an estate tax with $1.77M exemption (2024) — among the lowest 5 nationally; affects middle-class estates not just wealthy.
Reviewed by CalcFi Editorial · Source: Tax Foundation State Individual Income Tax Rates (Jan 2025). Last verified 2026-04-19. Methodology at /about/editorial.