The five U.S. states with no statewide sales tax are Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon, often remembered by the acronym NOMAD. However, some local areas in Alaska and Montana do have local sales taxes, while New Hampshire and Oregon have specific taxes on meals, lodging, and other services, with Delaware also having a gross receipts tax on businesses.
The "NOMAD" states are New Hampshire, Oregon, Montana, Alaska, and Delaware—the five U.S. states that don't have a statewide general sales tax, though some have local sales taxes or other specific business taxes. They are popular for businesses and consumers seeking to avoid state sales tax, but each has unique tax structures, such as gross receipts tax in Delaware or local taxes in parts of Alaska and Montana.
Every province except Alberta has implemented either a provincial sales tax or the Harmonized Sales Tax. The federal GST rate is 5 percent, effective January 1, 2008. The territories of Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut have no territorial sales taxes, so only the GST is collected.
Canada's Cheapest Provinces to Live in for 2025: Quality Living Without Breaking the Bank
There's no general sales tax in Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, or Oregon, though Alaska allows local sales taxes. Alaska, Hawaii, Maine, Wyoming, and Wisconsin are the states with the lowest average combined sales tax rates as of July 2025.
Living in a state with no income tax can be better, offering more take-home pay and simpler filing, especially for high earners, but it's not universally superior as these states often have higher sales, property, or utility taxes, and potentially less funding for public services like education, so you must weigh the entire tax picture and cost of living (housing, utilities, job market) against your personal priorities.
Many states don't tax basic groceries, with some (Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon) having no state sales tax at all, while others exempt food from their general sales tax, like Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, according to Stripe,, though local taxes or taxes on prepared/soda/candy often apply. The key is the distinction between groceries for home consumption (often exempt) and prepared foods or snacks (usually taxed).
Instead of sales tax, Oregon's public services are primarily funded through income and property taxes. Numerous attempts to introduce statewide sales tax have been struck down by voters. This strategy has made everyday transactions tax-free, distinguishing Oregon as one of the handful of states with no sales tax.
The five states with the highest average combined state and local sales tax rates are Louisiana (10.11 percent), Tennessee (9.61 percent), Washington (9.51 percent), Arkansas (9.46 percent), and Alabama (9.46 percent). Nationwide, the population-weighted average combined sales tax rate is 7.53 percent.
Believe it or not, a few states have no sales tax at all, and no plans to change. Oregon, for example, has zero sales tax. By using a package forwarding service in Oregon, savvy shoppers can purchase their items tax-free, then forward them to their home states, avoiding sales tax completely (and completely legally).
Tax-free shopping is currently available in the following countries: Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Guernsey, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, ...
In 2022, Canada was ranked 22nd out of the 38 OECD countries in terms of the tax-to-GDP ratio. 1. In this note, the country with the highest level or share is ranked first and the country with the lowest level or share is ranked 38th.
For a $70,000 income in Canada (using 2025 rates), you'll pay roughly $13,000 to $20,000 in total taxes (federal, provincial, CPP, EI), depending on your province, resulting in a take-home pay around $50,000-$59,000, with federal tax around 14.5% or 20.5% depending on the portion, plus provincial tax and deductions like CPP and EI.
The best states for taxes are often those with no state income tax, like Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. However, the "best" state depends on your personal situation, as some states compensate with higher sales or property taxes, so you must consider the overall tax burden, including income, property, and sales taxes, for a complete picture.
Nine U.S. states currently have no state income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming, though Washington taxes some capital gains, and New Hampshire recently repealed its tax on interest/dividends as of 2025. These states often rely on other revenue sources, like higher sales or property taxes, so a lack of income tax doesn't always mean lower overall taxes.
No U.S. state offers a complete absence of property tax for all seniors, but many provide significant exemptions, deferrals, or credits, with states like Alaska, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, and Washington offering substantial relief, while others like South Dakota allow deferral until sale, and states like Colorado, Texas, and New York offer significant reductions on assessed value for qualifying seniors.
WCCO CBS reported, "The study found that Minnesota is the friendliest state." This edged out Texas and other notoriously friendly-seeming states in that region (depending on who you ask).
It's not inherently better, but living in a state with no income tax can be financially advantageous by increasing take-home pay, especially for high earners, retirees, and business owners, as it simplifies taxes and keeps more income for savings or investments. However, these states often compensate with higher sales, property, or excise taxes, meaning the overall tax burden and cost of living (housing, insurance) must be considered, as a lack of income tax doesn't always mean lower overall costs or better public services.