Taxes: Best and worst states

• Rank: #50
• Income tax: Very high
• Corporate tax: Mid-range
• Sales tax: Low

Don't complain about taxes to a business owner in New York.

They pay the highest individual income taxes in the country, as well as some of the highest unemployment insurance and property taxes too.

Small business owners must deal with an income tax system that has eight different brackets. At the lowest end, they have to pay 4% on any profit under $8,000. The top rate is 8.82% for income above $1 million.

The state that's home to Wall Street is easier on companies that pay corporate taxes. The rate is a flat 7.1%.

Property taxes remain high, with an effective rate of 4.53%.

When it comes to unemployment insurance, it's not that New York's rates are too high. Instead, businesses must confront the state's complicated way of calculating costs, according to the Tax Foundation. Add-ons and surtaxes make the problem more confusing than elsewhere.

Excise taxes are also especially high, as businesses are forced to pay an extra $4.35 per cigarette pack they sell.

On the other hand, New York is among those with a low 4% sales tax.

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