With Tax Day looming, New Yorkers are getting fresh confirmation of what many Long Island households say they already feel in their bank accounts. A new analysis from WalletHub finds state and local tax burdens in New York are among the heaviest in the country, and residents say those numbers translate directly into tough choices at the kitchen table. Steep property and income taxes help push the Empire State near the top of the list, turning what might look like a dry ranking into a very real affordability squeeze for families who just finished filing their returns.
WalletHub’s breakdown puts New York in the second‑highest spot nationwide for combined state and local tax burden, with residents paying about 12.4% of their personal income into the public coffers. The study defines tax burden as the share of personal income that goes to property taxes, individual income taxes, and sales and excise taxes, so readers can see which pieces hit the hardest. In New York’s case, income and property taxes carry most of the load, while sales and excise taxes take a smaller, but still noticeable, bite out of paychecks.
Behind the numbers and the local reaction
WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo told News 12 New York that high real‑estate levies and steep income taxes are the main reasons New York lands so high on the list, and that excise charges on everyday goods quietly pile on. The News 12 report features Long Island residents who say the data simply mirrors their daily experience, from grocery aisles to property tax bills. "Everybody I know would like to see taxes lowered," Brightwaters resident Dave Kluepfel told the station. Another neighbor, Jericho resident Ajay Bhavnani, said the pressure is prompting some younger families to weigh moving elsewhere.
How New York stacks up
On WalletHub’s national table, Hawaii edges out New York for the top overall tax burden, while Alaska sits at the opposite end with the lightest load. Nearby states like New Jersey and Connecticut also land in the higher‑burden tier, which means hopping across state lines may not deliver the tax relief some Long Island families are hoping for. The comparison chart highlights which tax categories, whether property, income, or sales and excise, are doing most of the damage in each state.
What lawmakers are doing
State leaders have rolled out targeted relief this year in response to mounting affordability concerns, including adjustments to child tax credits and other measures described in recent coverage of Governor Kathy Hochul’s broader cost‑of‑living push. Tax Relief And Wage Hikes details packages aimed at lowering expenses for many households, though advocates and residents say there are still gaps. Whether these moves will nudge New York down on WalletHub’s next list will depend on future budget decisions in Albany and how local officials handle property tax levies.
For now, the WalletHub findings keep tax policy front and center in the affordability debate, especially in suburbs like Long Island where the numbers are already reshaping life plans. As budget season unfolds, policymakers face renewed pressure to prove that relief programs and spending choices will show up as real savings for families who say the current tax tab is making it harder to stay put.
