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HEAD-TO-HEAD TAX COMPARISON Β· 2026

COUNTRY A Wisconsin VS COUNTRY B Oregon

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

OVERVIEW
Wisconsin's income tax is substantially lower than Oregon's at every income level β€” $3,748/year less at $100,000, widening to $17,681/year at $500,000 β€” because Oregon's near-top 8.75% bracket starts at just $11,400. Oregon compensates with no sales tax at all and a lower property tax (0.81% vs Wisconsin's 1.32%). Wisconsin also offers a 60% exclusion on long-term capital gains that Oregon does not match.
Section 01

The Big Picture

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

πŸ§€
COUNTRY A
Wisconsin
TAX RATE
3.50-7.65%
Progressive, 4 Brackets

7.65% top rate above $332,720 β€” most residents pay their marginal rate in the broad 5.30% bracket

🌲
COUNTRY B
Oregon
TAX RATE
4.75-9.9%
Progressive, No Sales Tax

9.9% top rate kicks in above $125,000 β€” one of the highest effective burdens in the US

TYPICAL ANNUAL DIFFERENCE
Moving from Oregon β†’ Wisconsin at $100,000
$3,748

That's $312/month back in your pocket

Section 02

Tax Savings by Income Level

Net take-home after all income tax, social contributions, and surcharges β€” for a single employee with no dependents.

GROSS INCOME
πŸ§€ WI TAX
🌲 OR TAX
SAVINGS
10-YEAR
$50,000
$1,577
$3,801
$2,224
$22,240
$100,000
$4,428
$8,176
$3,748
$37,480
$200,000
$9,959
$17,755
$7,796
$77,960
$500,000
$29,774
$47,455
$17,681
$176,810
πŸ’‘

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πŸ§€

Wisconsin Pros & Cons

+ PROS
  • Lower income tax than Oregon at every level, with the gap widening sharply at higher incomes
  • 60% exclusion on long-term capital gains β€” effectively caps the state rate on investment gains around 3.06% at the top bracket
  • Social Security fully exempt from state income tax regardless of income level
  • No state estate tax
βˆ’ CONS
  • 5.5% combined sales tax, versus zero in Oregon
  • Property tax higher than Oregon's: 1.32% vs 0.81%
  • Groceries taxed at the full state sales tax rate, unlike many neighboring states
🌲

Oregon Pros & Cons

+ PROS
  • No sales tax at all β€” a real advantage for households with high taxable spending
  • Property tax of just 0.81%, well below Wisconsin's 1.32%
  • Unique federal tax subtraction: deduct up to $7,050 (single) of federal taxes paid from Oregon taxable income
βˆ’ CONS
  • Income tax is $3,748/year higher than Wisconsin at $100,000, ballooning to $17,681/year at $500,000
  • 8.75% bracket starts at just $11,400 of taxable income β€” most working Oregonians reach a near-top rate quickly
  • No preferential treatment for long-term capital gains, unlike Wisconsin's 60% exclusion
  • 9.9% top rate is among the highest state income tax rates in the country
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wisconsin or Oregon better for taxes?

Wisconsin has the significantly lower income tax at every level β€” $3,748/year less at $100,000, growing to $17,681/year at $500,000. Oregon's real advantages are having no sales tax at all and a lower property tax (0.81% vs Wisconsin's 1.32%), which help homeowners and big spenders but don't come close to closing the income tax gap for most households.

Why is Oregon's income tax so much higher than Wisconsin's at moderate incomes?

Oregon's third bracket (8.75%) starts at just $11,400 of taxable income for single filers, so most working Oregonians spend the bulk of their income in a near-top bracket. Wisconsin's equivalent bracket (5.30%) doesn't start until $51,950, and its rate is nearly 3.5 percentage points lower.

How do Wisconsin and Oregon treat long-term capital gains differently?

Wisconsin excludes 60% of net long-term capital gains from state taxable income, capping the effective state rate on gains at roughly 3.06% at the top bracket. Oregon has no such exclusion β€” capital gains are taxed as ordinary income at Oregon's full progressive rates, up to 9.9%. For investors, this is a significant additional advantage for Wisconsin beyond the wage-income comparison.

Does Oregon's lack of sales tax make up for its higher income tax versus Wisconsin?

Only partially. A household spending $30,000/year on taxable goods saves roughly $1,650 in Wisconsin sales tax (5.5% combined) by living in Oregon. That's meaningful but far short of the $3,748/year income tax gap at $100,000 income β€” Wisconsin remains substantially cheaper overall for most working households.