Last Updated: April 2026
Indiana is one of the few states actively on a path to cut income taxes each year. The flat state income tax rate has been reduced from 3.23% to 3.15% in recent years, with further reductions scheduled to bring it to 3.0% and then 2.9% by 2027 — a deliberate legislative strategy to make Indiana more competitive for businesses and residents. This simplicity of a single flat rate, combined with a genuinely uniform 7% statewide sales tax (no local additions, unlike most states), makes Indiana’s tax structure relatively easy to understand.
The critical complication is Indiana’s county income tax system. Every single one of Indiana’s 92 counties levies its own income tax, ranging from 0.5% to over 3%. Marion County (Indianapolis) charges 2.02%, which means Indianapolis residents pay 3.15% state + 2.02% county = 5.17% combined on income. Hamilton County (Carmel/Fishers) charges 1.1%, for a combined 4.25%. Switzerland County charges 3.38% — the highest in the state — for a combined 6.53%.
Indiana’s property tax system is one of the most structured in the country, with constitutionally mandated caps that prevent taxes from exceeding 1% of assessed value for owner-occupied homes, 2% for agricultural land, and 3% for all other property. This provides genuine protection for homeowners and businesses against runaway local tax increases.
Indiana’s income tax simplicity is one of its selling points. There is a single flat rate applied to all taxable income — no brackets, no surtaxes on high earners, and no attempt to distinguish between types of income. The current 3.15% rate applies equally to wages, business income, rental income, capital gains, and retirement income (subject to specific exemptions discussed below).
Indiana’s General Assembly has committed to a series of scheduled rate reductions:
This makes Indiana one of the few states actively pursuing income tax reduction as a stated policy goal, similar to Georgia’s movement toward a flat 4.99% and Iowa’s reductions. For long-term residents, the rate will continue to decrease in coming years.
| State | Income Tax Type | Rate at $100,000 Income |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana | 3.15% flat + county (avg ~1.5%) | ~4.65% combined |
| Ohio | Progressive 0–3.99% | ~3.99% |
| Michigan | 4.25% flat | 4.25% |
| Illinois | 4.95% flat | 4.95% |
| Kentucky | 4.5% flat | 4.5% |
Indiana’s county income tax is often overlooked by people comparing state tax rates. Every county in Indiana levies its own income tax, and the county tax is based on where you live, not where you work (with some non-resident rules). This means the same job paying $100,000 results in very different total tax bills depending on which county you live in.
| County | County Rate | State + County Total | Tax on $100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marion (Indianapolis) | 2.02% | 5.17% | $5,170 |
| Hamilton (Carmel/Fishers) | 1.1% | 4.25% | $4,250 |
| Hendricks (Avon/Plainfield) | 1.5% | 4.65% | $4,650 |
| Allen (Fort Wayne) | 1.48% | 4.63% | $4,630 |
| Vanderburgh (Evansville) | 1.2% | 4.35% | $4,350 |
| Switzerland (highest) | 3.38% | 6.53% | $6,530 |
There are no city-level income taxes in Indiana beyond the county tax. Indianapolis (inside Marion County) does not add a separate city income tax on top of the county rate.
Indiana’s 7% statewide sales tax is one of the highest state sales tax rates in the country — tied with Tennessee and Mississippi. What makes Indiana’s system distinctive is its uniformity: the 7% rate applies everywhere in Indiana. Unlike almost every other state, Indiana does not allow cities, counties, or municipalities to add local sales tax on top of the state rate. You pay exactly 7% whether you shop in downtown Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Bloomington, or a rural county.
This uniformity simplifies business compliance and means there are no “tax border” effects where consumers drive to a nearby county to save on sales tax. However, the flat 7% is unambiguously high by national standards.
Indiana’s property tax caps are enshrined in the state constitution and represent one of the most protective property tax structures in the United States. Article 10, Section 1 of the Indiana Constitution caps property taxes as follows:
This means on a $400,000 home in Indiana, the maximum property tax you can legally be charged is $4,000 per year (1% of $400,000) — regardless of what local school boards, city councils, or county commissions vote to levy. In practice, most Indiana homeowners pay well below the cap.
| County | Approximate Effective Rate | Annual Tax on $400,000 Home | Constitutional Cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marion (Indianapolis) | 0.85% | ~$3,400 | $4,000 (1% cap) |
| Hamilton (Carmel/Fishers) | 0.75% | ~$3,000 | $4,000 (1% cap) |
| Allen (Fort Wayne) | 0.80% | ~$3,200 | $4,000 (1% cap) |
| Statewide average | ~0.85% | ~$3,400 | $4,000 (1% cap) |
The constitutional cap is a genuine protection. In states like New Jersey (average ~2.2%), Texas (~1.74%), or Illinois (~2.23%), homeowners face property tax bills 2–3 times higher on comparable properties than in Indiana.
Indiana taxes most forms of retirement income at the flat state rate, but provides important exemptions:
Indiana repealed its inheritance tax effective January 1, 2013. For deaths occurring after that date, Indiana imposes no inheritance tax on heirs regardless of the relationship to the deceased or the value of assets inherited. No estate tax either. Indiana residents benefit from the federal estate tax exemption only ($13.61M per individual in 2024), and most Indiana estates pass completely free of transfer taxes at any level.
Indiana is often cited as a relatively low-tax state, and for middle-income earners this is generally accurate — particularly on property taxes. However, the combination of state income tax + county income tax + 7% sales tax creates a meaningful tax burden for typical families. The groceries exemption from sales tax is a significant offset for lower-income households.
| Annual Income | Approximate Total Indiana State/Local Tax | Comparable Tax in Florida (no income tax) |
|---|---|---|
| $60,000 | ~$3,500 (income + county) + sales tax | $0 income + sales tax (lower rate) |
| $100,000 | ~$5,200 (income + county avg) | $0 income tax |
| $200,000 | ~$10,400 (income + county avg) | $0 income tax |
For high earners, Indiana’s income tax burden is significant but far below California (13.3% top rate) or New York (10.9% top rate). The property tax caps provide meaningful protection for homeowners. The 7% sales tax is high but uniform, and the grocery exemption reduces its impact on everyday spending.
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Talk to an Indiana CPA About Your Taxes →Indiana has a flat 3.15% state income tax rate, reduced from 3.23% in prior years. Indiana’s General Assembly has scheduled further reductions, with the rate expected to reach 3.0% and then 2.9% by 2027. In addition, every Indiana county levies its own income tax ranging from 0.5% to 3.38%. The combined state plus county rate for an Indianapolis (Marion County) resident is 5.17%. Most Indiana residents pay a combined 4–6.5% in income taxes depending on their county of residence.
Yes — every one of Indiana’s 92 counties levies a local income tax. Unlike some states where only certain cities have local taxes, Indiana’s county income tax applies statewide. County rates range from 0.5% (lowest counties) to 3.38% (Switzerland County, the highest). The county tax is based on your county of residence, not where you work. For Indianapolis residents in Marion County, the county rate is 2.02%, bringing the total state plus county income tax to 5.17%.
Indiana’s property tax caps are written into the state constitution. Owner-occupied residential property cannot be taxed at more than 1% of its gross assessed value per year. Agricultural land is capped at 2%, and all other property (commercial, rental, industrial) at 3%. This means on a $400,000 home, the maximum annual property tax is $4,000 regardless of local tax levies. In practice, most Indiana homeowners pay below the cap at an effective average rate of approximately 0.85%. These constitutional caps provide one of the strongest homeowner protections against property tax increases in the USA.
No — Indiana exempts unprepared grocery food from its 7% sales tax. This is a meaningful difference from Tennessee (which taxes groceries at 4% state) and makes Indiana’s high 7% sales tax rate less burdensome for everyday household spending. Restaurant meals and prepared food are taxable at the full 7%. Prescription drugs are also exempt. The uniform 7% rate applies everywhere in Indiana with no local additions.
No — Social Security benefits are fully exempt from Indiana state income tax. Indiana also provides a partial pension income deduction of $6,250 per qualifying taxpayer for certain pension income. Military retirement pay is fully exempt from Indiana income tax. These exemptions make Indiana reasonably attractive for retirees, particularly those who spend much of their time in Indiana and benefit from the low property taxes and no inheritance tax.
No — Indiana repealed its inheritance tax effective January 1, 2013. Any Indiana resident who died before that date may have had heirs subject to the old inheritance tax, but for all current and future deaths, Indiana imposes no inheritance tax and no estate tax. Only the federal estate tax applies, with the 2024 exemption of $13.61M per individual. Indiana’s repeal makes it more attractive for estate planning compared to states like Pennsylvania or Kentucky that still have inheritance taxes.
Indiana’s 7% statewide sales tax rate is tied for the highest state-level sales tax rate in the USA, alongside Tennessee and Mississippi. However, Indiana’s system is unique because no local governments can add additional sales tax on top of the state rate — the 7% rate is uniform everywhere in Indiana. Compare this to Tennessee, where the 7% state rate is supplemented by local rates that push combined totals to 9.25–9.75%. Indiana’s flat 7% is high but uniform, and the grocery exemption reduces its effective burden on families.
Yes — Indiana has been systematically reducing its income tax rate and has constitutional property tax protections that prevent runaway local tax increases. The income tax has dropped from 3.23% toward a planned 2.9% by 2027. The inheritance tax was repealed in 2013. The constitutional property tax caps were added in 2010. These structural changes make Indiana increasingly competitive, particularly for manufacturers and businesses drawn to the low property tax caps and the simplicity of a flat income tax with predictable trajectory.