Strange But True Tax Laws From All 50 States

The United States tax code is anything but simple. The instructions for the standard 1040 tax form alone are more than 100 pages long, and good luck getting through them in one sitting. Tax rules and regulations at the state level provide no relief, riddled as they are with strange fees and exemptions, some of them decades out of date. Every state has odd and sometimes unbelievable state tax laws — including a number of regulations that could save consumers money.

Related: Why Billionaires Pay Less Tax Than You

Alabama taxes the proceeds from the sale of illegal drugs by requiring sellers to have tax stamps. Anyone caught with large quantities of drugs and no stamps would face not only jail time but also prosecution for tax evasion unless they paid up. Though this brought in sizable revenue in the '90s, so little money comes in through the stamps now that the Revenue Department no longer includes it as a line item in the agency's books. 

Whaling captains recognized by the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission can deduct up to $10,000 for whaling-related expenses. The deduction is considered a charitable contribution, even if the money isn't paid to a charitable organization. 

Related: Crazy Tax Deductions That Were Actually Legit

Several states, including Arizona, tax ice blocks and ice cubes differently. Since ice cubes are used in mixed drinks, and considered food, they aren't taxed by the state. Ice blocks, however, are subject to sales tax. 

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What do pet grooming, gutter cleaning, and body piercing have in common? In Arkansas, each of these services is subject to a 6.5% gross receipts sales tax — a tax to the business providing the service. 

There is plenty of fresh fruit to be found in the Golden State and there's a 33% tax if it is bought from a vending machine. The tax applies to other food items, as well, including hot drinks, although there is an exception for vending machines operated by educational institutions when the items are sold to students. 

Consider this when taking a full cup to go and driving down a bumpy road in Colorado. Retailers in the Centennial State aren't taxed on the purchase of cups, but they are taxed when they buy lids and straws. Other items, such as toothpicks, portion dividers, cup sleeves, and bibs, are taxed as well.

The Constitution State promotes public safety through its tax code by making numerous items tax exempt. Bicycle helmets, child car seats, firearm safety items like trigger locks and lock boxes all qualify as tax exempt.   

Delaware is one of five states with no sales tax. The state has a low 8.7% flat income tax on corporations, and if a business doesn't conduct its operations in Delaware, the corporate income tax might not even apply. Add to that the state's business-friendly laws and its non-jury chancery court known for impartial decisions, and incorporating in Delaware is a no-brainer. About half of all publicly traded companies in the country do just that.

Many states have tax exemptions for farmers and ranchers, but Florida's "greenbelt law" was vaguely worded and notoriously open to abuse — at least, until being strengthened over the past couple of legislative terms. Property developers had rented cows to avoid paying taxes while preparing their land for building. Even Disney World took advantage of the loophole.

Related: 50 Interesting and Fun Facts to Lighten Up Tax Time

In 2014, Georgia became the first state to cap its income tax rate through a ballot measure. The tax rate cap of 6% is now part of the state's constitution. There are six tax brackets for the 2023 tax year, and the current top rate in Georgia is 5.75%. However, the state is moving to flat tax rate of 5.49% for the 2024 tax year and even lower rates for subsequent years. 

Trees with historic or cultural value, and those that are otherwise deemed worthy of preservation due to their age, rarity, location, size, or aesthetic quality, come with a tax deduction of up to $3,000 a tree in Hawaii. The deduction can be used to cover the cost of maintaining the tree. 

In 2014, Idaho changed its statute governing sales tax on cloud computing. The state no longer taxes purchases of cloud-based or downloaded computer software. Digital entertainment, such as ebooks and movies, is subject to sales tax if the purchase includes a permanent right to the work, meaning streaming or rental services may be exempt.

Pity the poor candy-store owner. In Illinois, Twix bars aren't taxed because they are made with flour, so they don't meet the state's definition of candy. Other Mars candy bars such as Snickers, though, are taxed, because they contain no flour. Similar laws are on the books in Washington, Colorado, and Connecticut. 

The Hoosier State has several oddball food taxes. For example, marshmallow creme is tax exempt, but marshmallows are not. Icing in tubes and containers of frosting are also exempt, but cake decorations are not.

A use tax is assessed for the use, storage, or consumption of something in a state, regardless where the purchase was made. If a computer is bought while visiting a state that doesn't charge sales tax, the buyer may still need to pay a use tax when returning home. Iowa has use-tax exemptions for prescription drugs and medical devices, including catheter trays, oxygen equipment, when they're sold to the user (rather than a business). 

Want to ride in a hot air balloon in Kansas? If it is tethered to the ground, passengers are taxed for the entertainment. But if the rope is untied, it's treated as air transportation and the ride is tax-free. Wisconsin and Missouri have had similar laws on the books.

Home to the world-famous Kentucky Derby, this state has a 6% sales tax on thoroughbred stud fees. The revenue has topped $15 million in some years, split among three horse breeder incentive funds.  

Every September, Louisiana has a Second Amendment sales tax holiday. Hunting supplies, ammunition, and firearms are all exempt from state and local sales taxes, as well as use taxes. At one point it was accidentally repealed, but it was subsequently reinstated in 2023.

Officially called the Maine Wild Blueberry Tax, this charge amounts to 1.5 cents per pound of wild blueberries sold. Businesses generally pass the tax on to consumers. Recently, growers have sought relief from the tax due to higher labor costs and inflation.  

Homeowners with septic systems in Maryland have had to pay $5 a month, or $60 a year, with the money going to upgrade wastewater treatment plants and failing septic systems and reduce pollution in the Chesapeake Bay.

Massachusetts residents traveling for a holiday or celebration might run afoul of the law if they bring a bottle of liquor or wine. A special permit and fee are required to bring alcohol that wasn't purchased, and isn't intended for resale, in the state.

Like many states, Michigan taxes prepared food but not unprepared food, and the law goes into detail about how to distinguish the two. Buying hot popcorn in bags, boxes, buckets, or disposable paper bowls for immediate consumption may be taxable, as that counts as prepared food, but popped corn bought in a pre-sealed or twist-tied package may be exempt.

Those trying to stay warm during the Minnesota winter used to think twice before buying a fur coat. While most clothing items are tax-exempt, real fur was subject to sales tax — 6.875% statewide plus local taxes. The tax applied to fur coats bought online, as well. The rule has since been revoked, likely because fur has become a less popular option.

Related: Where the Rich Hide Their Money From the IRS

Individuals and groups of "private nonindustrial landowners" have been able to get a tax credit for up to 50% of the costs associated with hardwood and pine reforestation. The credit has a cap of $10,000 a year and a lifetime limit of $75,000.

To encourage young men to marry, Missouri charged an annual tax of $1 to single men between the age of 21 and 50. The "bachelor tax" was passed in 1820, when $1 was equivalent to about $20 today, and it's no longer enforced. 

In Montana, prescribed drugs and insulin count toward medical expenses for those who itemize deductions. Even with a valid medical marijuana card, though, the cost of buying or growing marijuana isn't deductible. 

Like Alabama, Nebraska taxes the sale of illegal controlled substances. The state's law says drug dealers must buy drug tax stamps at a rate of $100 per ounce of marijuana, $150 per gram of controlled substances, or $500 per 50 dosage units of controlled substances that aren't generally sold by weight. 

Since 1999, the Mr. Olympia bodybuilding competition has been held in Las Vegas. Like everyone else, bodybuilders can deduct ordinary and necessary business expenses. But it's one of the few professions that can count body oil among those expenses. 

New Hampshire has neither a sales tax nor an income tax (with the exception of a 5% tax on interest and dividends above $2,400, or $4,800 for joint filers). Instead, many local governments rely on property taxes, which are among the highest in the nation. But the tax won't be around for long. It is set to be repealed Jan. 1, 2025.

Several states, New Jersey included, have made a distinction between pumpkins used for food and pumpkins used for decoration. If they were painted, cut, or sold as decorations, the pumpkins were taxable. 

The year-round warmth of New Mexico draws many retirees, and the state tax rules have an interesting twist for the elderly: Those who are over 100 years old and not claimed as a dependent don't have to pay income tax.

Looking forward to a delicious New York City bagel? Those who want it prepared — toasted, sliced, covered with cream cheese, or altered in any way — have to pay the 8.875% tax that applies to processed foods. An unsliced bagel to go, however, isn't taxed. 

The Tar Heel State also has a tax on illicit substances ranging from moonshine to marijuana. As the state department of revenue website points out, paying for the state tax stamp doesn't mean the drugs are legal, it just means the tax has been paid. Somewhat ironically for those possessing the illegal drugs, the bulk of the revenue from the stamps goes to law enforcement.

A musical composition performing tax levies 5% on the sale and licensing of performing rights for music and dramatico-musical compositions. The tax is based on gross receipts from the previous year. 

Ohio doesn't tax human organs, bones, blood, or other parts for transfusing or transplanting. But sales tax applies to human hair and animal parts for transplantation and implantation.

Most states have property taxes, but several counties in Oklahoma stand out because they tax personal possessions that aren't used to generate income. Even basic household items, such as furniture, could be subject to the "tangible personal property" tax. 

Oregon started issuing marijuana licenses to retailers and lowered the state sales tax for recreational marijuana to 17% from 25% in October 2016. Municipalities can add up to 3% local sales tax on recreational marijuana, but medical marijuana is exempt from local and state sales tax.

Related: Things to Know Before Buying Cannabis in States Where It's Legal

The Keystone State has an 18% sales tax on liquor. While taxing booze isn't odd, the tax, initially 10%, was created specifically to pay for the repair of the city of Johnstown after a flood in 1936. Those repairs were completed in 1942, but the tax remains. So while death and taxes may be inevitable, taxes can take on a life of their own and live on indefinitely.

The Rhode Island individual income tax return form (RI-1040) features emoticons. A smiley face appears on the "Amount Overpaid" (refund) line, while a frowny face is shown on the "Total Amount Due" line.

Hunters who also have a license or permit to operate as a meat packer, butcher, or processing plant could get a $75 tax credit per deer carcass they donate to charity. The deer has to be prepared for consumption and the taxpayer must have a contract with a nonprofit to qualify for the credit.

The bad news: South Dakota doesn't give tax breaks for contributions to in-state 529 college savings plans. The good news: It's because the state doesn't have an income tax. 

Foods that aren't prepared by the seller come with a 7% state sales tax. This includes baby food, dips, and some spreads. Livestock feed is exempt from sales and use taxes, though. Regarding human food, though, the state did give consumers a break in the form of a 3-month tax holiday on food purchases in 2023. 

Holiday greenery, such as wreaths, mistletoe, and Christmas trees, are all subject to sales tax in Texas — but not when bought from a charitable organization. Another way to lessen holiday taxes is to hire a decorating service and provide the decorations. If the company supplies them, both materials and labor are taxable.

Although the rule was appealed all the way to the Utah Supreme Court, there is a 10% tax on fees charged by businesses such as strip clubs that have nude or partially nude workers. The tax also applies to food and drink sold by the establishment.

Street performers, keep your wallets handy. In Burlington, Vermont's largest city, the City Council may tax "the exhibition of common showmen, circuses, menageries, carnivals, and shows of every kind, and all plays, athletic contests, exhibitions, or entertainments for money."

Like many states, Virginia has an annual back-to-school tax holiday weekend. But Virginia's list of tax-free goods has been known to include an odd array of items: fur coats, lingerie, garters and garter belts, wedding apparel, aprons, and corsets, to name a few, eligible with sale prices of $100 or less.

Residents of Washington were once hugely in favor of an income tax law, with 70% voting not once but twice in favor of it, during the Great Depression. How popular was the income tax? Only 62% of voters wanted to repeal Prohibition, which was on the same ballot. But when the law was challenged by well-off business owners and got held up in the state supreme court, everyone had time to read the new income tax forms and suddenly the law that many thought would be easily approved was deemed unconstitutional — and Washingtonians voted against an income tax ever since.

West Virginia legalized additional types of fireworks, such as roman candles and bottle rockets, in 2016. A 12% "safety fee" (in addition to sales tax) came along with the legalization. The money raised from the fee helps support veterans and volunteer fire departments. 

As 2020, Wisconsin was one of just a few states that taxed internet access. That's illegal according to federal law, but Wisconsin secured a grandfather exemption and could continue the tax through June 30, 2020. The amount varied depending on the type of service (dial-up, DSL, cable, etc.) Afterward, it was no longer taxable.

Wyoming considers candy (including mints and gum) food and exempts it from sales tax. Gift sets and holiday baskets are also exempt if more than 50% of the product's value comes from exempt foods. 

The nation's capital apparently has mixed feelings when it comes to healthy habits. Both gyms and sugary drinks draw a tax of around 5.75% and 8% respectively.