Our latest visualization maps out how much state and local ,ore the richest 1 percent of a state pays, compared to the poorest 20 percent of the state. According to the ITEP report, the lowest-income 20 percent of taxpayers end monfy paying, on average, a state and local tax pelple more than 50 percent higher than the top 1 percent of households. ITEP states that nationwide, the average effective state and local tax rate is Conversely, a progressive tax system has taxpayers pay a higher tax rate as they make more money. The gap between how much the poor pay compared to the rich is wider with more regressive tax systems. The ITEP report posits that the lack of a personal income tax in these states leads to an overreliance on local sales and excise taxes, which therefore shifts more of the tax burden to the poor. Without a progressive personal income tax that has the wealthier person pay more to the government, the poorer person is stuck with the higher tax burden as a percentage of thei...