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HEAD-TO-HEAD TAX COMPARISON · 2026

COUNTRY A Ohio VS COUNTRY B Wisconsin

Side-by-side analysis of income tax, effective rates, and take-home pay for Ohio and Wisconsin in 2026.

Daniel · CountryTaxCalc Updated August 2026 Tax Comparison 2026
Calculate your take-home → See all comparisons →
OVERVIEW
Ohio's simplified 2-bracket income tax (0% on the first $26,050, then just 2.75% above) is among the lowest state income tax burdens of any state with an income tax, comfortably beating Wisconsin's 4-bracket progressive structure that tops out at 7.65%. At $100,000 income, Ohio's state tax bill ($1,591) is $2,269/year lower than Wisconsin's ($3,860), and the gap widens to more than $16,200/year at $500,000. Ohio's income-tax advantage comes with a catch: 200+ Ohio municipalities levy their own local income tax — Columbus and Cleveland both charge 2.5% — while Wisconsin has no local income tax anywhere in the state. Wisconsin's average effective property tax rate (~1.25%-1.32%) runs somewhat higher than Ohio's, a modest offset that does not come close to erasing Ohio's income-tax lead. Wisconsin fully exempts Social Security from state tax, matching Ohio's Social Security exemption, but both states tax pensions, 401(k), and IRA withdrawals in full as ordinary income.
Section 01

The Big Picture

Top-line rates and effective take-home for a typical earner — including income tax, social contributions, and applicable surcharges.

🏈
COUNTRY A
Ohio
TAX RATE
0-2.75%
2-Bracket Progressive
0% on first $26,050, then 2.75% above; Columbus/Cleveland add up to 2.5% local tax
🧀
COUNTRY B
Wisconsin
TAX RATE
3.5-7.65%
4-Bracket Progressive
Progressive 3.5%-7.65% across 4 brackets; top rate applies above $323,290, a high threshold
TYPICAL ANNUAL DIFFERENCE
Moving from Wisconsin → Ohio at $100,000
$2,269
That's $189/month back in your pocket
Section 02

Tax Savings by Income Level

Net take-home after all income tax, social contributions, and surcharges — for a single employee with no dependents.
GROSS INCOME
🏈 OH TAX
🧀 WI TAX
SAVINGS
10-YEAR
$50,000
$216
$1,359
$1,143
$11,430
$75,000
$903
$2,535
$1,632
$16,320
$100,000
$1,591
$3,860
$2,269
$22,690
$150,000
$2,966
$6,510
$3,544
$35,440
$250,000
$5,716
$11,810
$6,094
$60,940
$500,000
$12,591
$28,836
$16,245
$162,450
💡

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🏈

Ohio Pros & Cons

+ PROS
  • 0% tax on the first $26,050 of income and just 2.75% above that — one of the lowest state-level income-tax burdens of any state with an income tax, beating Wisconsin by $1,143 to $16,245/year
  • No tax on Social Security, matching Wisconsin's full Social Security exemption
  • Diverse metro economies (Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati) anchored by Fortune 500 employers, healthcare systems, and manufacturing
  • 2022 tax reform consolidated Ohio from 9 brackets down to just 2, a structural simplification Wisconsin hasn't matched
− CONS
  • 200+ municipalities levy local income tax on top of the state rate — Columbus and Cleveland both charge 2.5%, adding $1,000-$2,500/year for city residents that Wisconsin doesn't have anywhere
  • Some Ohio school districts levy an additional School District Income Tax (SDIT, ~1% average) layered on top of state and municipal taxes
  • Slightly lower average property tax than Wisconsin but the two states are closer on property tax than on income tax
  • Fewer major manufacturing employers of Wisconsin's caliber (Harley-Davidson, John Deere, Johnson Controls) in a single state
🧀

Wisconsin Pros & Cons

+ PROS
  • No local income tax anywhere in Wisconsin — unlike Ohio, where Columbus, Cleveland, and 200+ other municipalities add 1-2.5% local tax
  • Fully exempts Social Security from state income tax at any age, matching Ohio's treatment
  • High top-bracket threshold ($323,290 single) means most residents never actually hit the 7.65% top rate
  • Strong manufacturing base (Harley-Davidson, John Deere, Johnson Controls) plus dairy and paper industries diversify the state's economy
− CONS
  • Higher state income tax at every bracket than Ohio's effective 0-2.75% structure — costing residents $1,143 to $16,245/year more across the income range shown
  • Pension, 401(k), and IRA withdrawals are fully taxable at 3.5%-7.65% with no special retirement deductions, same as Ohio beyond its threshold
  • Higher average property tax (~1.25%-1.32%) than Ohio, though the gap is modest compared to the much larger income-tax difference
  • Smaller major-metro job market than Ohio's three-city corridor (Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati)
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ohio or Wisconsin cheaper for state income tax?

Ohio is significantly cheaper at every income level. At $100,000, Ohio's effective 0-2.75% structure costs $1,591 versus Wisconsin's progressive rate at $3,860 — a $2,269/year difference. At $500,000, the gap grows to more than $16,200/year. Ohio's 2022 tax reform, which consolidated 9 brackets into 2, is the main driver of this advantage.

Do Ohio's local city taxes change the comparison?

Significantly, for city residents. Columbus and Cleveland both charge 2.5% local income tax on top of the state rate. A Columbus resident at $100,000 pays roughly $1,591 state + $2,500 city = $4,091 combined — slightly more than Wisconsin's $3,860, since Wisconsin has no local income tax anywhere. Outside major Ohio cities, Ohio's state-only rate keeps a clear advantage.

Does either state tax Social Security and retirement income?

Both states fully exempt Social Security from state income tax at any age. Neither state offers a special deduction for pensions, 401(k), or IRA withdrawals beyond Ohio's general $26,050 tax-free threshold — both tax retirement account withdrawals as ordinary income at their respective state rates once that threshold is exceeded.

Which state has lower property tax, Ohio or Wisconsin?

The two states are fairly close. Ohio's average effective property tax rate runs roughly 1.3%-1.4%, while Wisconsin's runs roughly 1.25%-1.32% according to the Tax Foundation and SmartAsset — meaning property tax is a near-wash between the two states and doesn't meaningfully offset Ohio's much larger income-tax advantage.

What is Ohio's School District Income Tax (SDIT)?

Ohio allows individual school districts to levy their own income tax on top of state and municipal tax, averaging roughly 1% statewide (ranging 0.25%-2%). Not every district levies it, but many suburban and urban districts do. A Columbus-area resident could face Ohio state (up to 2.75%) plus Columbus city (2.5%) plus SDIT (~1%) — a combined rate that can approach or exceed Wisconsin's top 7.65% bracket.

How much would I save moving from Wisconsin to Ohio?

At $100,000 income (outside a taxing Ohio municipality), moving from Wisconsin to Ohio could save about $2,269/year in state income tax. At $250,000 income, savings grow to about $6,094/year, and at $500,000 the gap widens to roughly $16,245/year. Moving to a Columbus or Cleveland address would reduce these savings by roughly $1,000-$2,500/year due to local city tax.

Which state is better for manufacturing and industrial jobs?

Wisconsin has a deeper concentration of major manufacturing headquarters — Harley-Davidson, John Deere, Johnson Controls — plus a large dairy and paper industry. Ohio spreads its opportunities across three metros — Columbus (Intel, Ohio State), Cleveland (Cleveland Clinic, manufacturing), and Cincinnati (P&G, Kroger) — offering a broader mix of industries beyond manufacturing alone.

Is there a commuter strategy between the two states?

Wisconsin residents near the Minnesota border sometimes use a similar strategy to Ohio's border counties: living in the lower-tax state while working across the border. Since neither Ohio nor Wisconsin taxes nonresident wages earned within the other's borders without a reciprocity issue, cross-border commuters should check each state's specific nonresident filing rules before assuming automatic savings.
From the brief
NL27%new 2027 rate, down from 30%
DK65.4kkr/mo threshold, cut from 78k
MT1940snon-dom regime unchanged since
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