A new analysis of state taxes across America concludes that California is “the second worst state to be a taxpayer,” says the personal finance site WalletHub.

We were beat out only by New York.

See also: California Ranks Almost Last in Business-Friendly Taxes

WalletHub's analysis shows that our annual state and local taxes are 39 percent higher than the national average:
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Ouch.

The site says California has the highest state income tax (9.3 percent), the highest gas taxes (nearly 71 cents a gallon), the second-highest taxes on car sales ($257.08) and ninth-highest sales tax rate (8.38 percent).

According to a statement sent to us, Wallethub … 

 … analyzed how the 50 states as well as the District of Columbia compare to the national median in terms of 10 different categories of taxation, ranging from state and local income taxes to alcohol and telecom taxes.

In none of the site's breakout categories – lowest real estate taxes, lowest alcohol taxes, etc. – did California rank in the lowest five.

The big winners were Wyoming (number 1 for low taxes), Alaska (2), Nevada (3), Florida (4) and South Dakota.

Yes, you're seeing a pattern: The average rank of a Republican-dominated “red state” was 19.9; for Democratic blue states it was 31.4, according to WalletHub.

Credit: WalletHub

Credit: WalletHub

However, several analyses have found that red states generally get more back in federal revenues than they pay in taxes, analysis that have been somewhat verified. 

So maybe California needs to tax ourselves a little more just to make up for federal cash being siphoned off by other states? Those freeways don't pay for themselves.

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