MADISON—State-local taxes in Wisconsin claimed 12.13% of personal income in 2004-05, down slightly from 12.18% in 2003-04, according to new figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau. The Badger State was one of 11 states in which taxes declined as a share of income, according to calculations by the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance (WISTAX).

Using the new Census, WISTAX calculates that Wisconsin’s state-local tax burden ranked eighth highest nationally, down from sixth the prior year. The drop in rank was due primarily to increased taxes elsewhere, rather than reduced taxes here. Alaska jumped from 19th to fifth, due largely to increases in "other taxes," likely those on mineral extraction. Wisconsin was also passed by Rhode Island, where taxes claimed 12.27% of income, up from 12.04% in 2004.

Among Wisconsin’s major taxes, only the corporate income tax claimed a larger share of income in 2005 compared to 2004:

n Corporate income tax collections rose from 0.41% to 0.44% of personal income and the state’s rank fell to 15th from 12th.

n Individual income taxes claimed 3.10% of income, down from 3.13%. Nationally, they ranked 15th compared to ninth in 2004.

n Property claimed 4.43% of income, nearly unchanged from the 4.42% in 2004. Wisconsin’s property tax rank dropped from eighth to ninth.

n General sales taxes fell to 2.44% of income in 2005 from 2.47% the prior year. Our sales tax rank moved from 30th to 31st.

A more detailed WISTAX report on the Badger State’s tax and spending rankings is being prepared for release later this summer. o