Out of the $4.7 billion in total state taxes collected by Montana in 2023, $2.6 billion—or 55.1%—came from income taxes, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of State Government Tax Collections (STC).
The State Government Tax Collections (STC) survey tracks five major tax categories and up to 25 subcategories, gathering data from all 50 state governments and their dependent agencies.
The Census Bureau notes that it defines tax classifications consistently across states, which may differ from how individual states categorize them.
All figures in this article reflect taxes collected by state governments only, based on the STC. They do not include local taxes, such as most property taxes, which make up a significant portion of overall taxes paid by residents.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, state and local governments collect a wide range of taxes to fund public programs and services. These revenues are typically allocated to areas such as transportation, education, and public safety. In 2024, state tax collections alone amounted to nearly $1.5 trillion nationwide, representing a significant part of overall government operations.
| Type of Tax | Amount |
|---|---|
| Income taxes | $2,594,794,000 |
| Individual income taxes | $2,286,844,000 |
| Selective sales and gross receipts taxes | $923,794,000 |
| Sales and gross receipts taxes | $923,794,000 |
| License taxes | $513,606,000 |
| Property taxes | $388,902,000 |
| Corporation net income taxes | $307,950,000 |
| Other taxes | $289,045,000 |
| Motor fuels sales taxes | $288,739,000 |
| Severance taxes | $281,651,000 |
| Motor vehicle license taxes | $199,202,000 |
| Occupation and businesses license taxes | $185,930,000 |
| Other selective sales and gross receipts taxes | $176,873,000 |
| Insurance premiums sales taxes | $163,891,000 |
| Hunting and fishing license taxes | $82,509,000 |
| Amusements sales taxes | $80,113,000 |
| Tobacco products sales taxes | $67,026,000 |
| Sports betting taxes | $59,358,000 |
| Alcoholic beverages sales taxes | $48,793,000 |
| Public utilities sales taxes | $39,001,000 |
| Other license taxes | $15,789,000 |
| Motor vehicle operators license taxes | $10,267,000 |
| Alcoholic beverages license taxes | $8,235,000 |
| Other taxes, NEC | $7,394,000 |
| Corporations in general license taxes | $7,008,000 |
| Amusements license taxes | $4,661,000 |
| Public utilities license taxes | $5,000 |
Information in this story was obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of State Government Tax Collections (STC). The source data can be found here.
