How taxes work in Maryland
Sales tax. Maryland charges a 6% statewide sales tax, and counties, cities and special districts add their own on top — which is why the average combined rate of about 6% is the number that matters at the till. Groceries are generally exempt from the state sales tax; local rules can differ.
Property tax. At an average effective rate of about 1.06%, a $350,000 home in Maryland carries roughly $3,710 a year in property tax before exemptions. That is near the middle of US states. Local assessors set actual bills, so verify with the county for any specific property.
Income tax. Progressive state rates 2–5.75%, plus county 'piggyback' income taxes of roughly 2.25–3.3%. If you are self-employed in Maryland, you still owe federal self-employment tax plus quarterly state estimates where applicable.
Sales tax · average combined
Property tax · average effective
Chart: DailyFinance.tools · Rates are reviewed averages from our state tax dataset — your exact local rate may differ.
How Maryland compares with similar states
The states closest to Maryland on average combined sales tax. Property tax is the average effective rate; income tax shows the structure, not a single rate.
| State | Combined sales tax | Property tax | Income tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland (this page) | 6% | 1.06% | Progressive |
| Idaho | 6.02% | 0.69% | Flat |
| Kentucky | 6% | 0.86% | Flat |
| Michigan | 6% | 1.54% | Flat |
| District of Columbia | 6% | 0.56% | Progressive |
| All-state average (51 entries) | 6.61% | 1.04% | — |
What this means for your money in Maryland
Property tax in Maryland sits near the middle nationally: an average effective rate of 1.06% (rank 21 of 51; all-state average 1.04%). On a $400,000 home that is about $4,240 a year, or $353.33 a month through escrow. No single tax dominates the picture here — the state's overall position is the sum of three middling taxes rather than one extreme one.
Read together: Maryland combines an average combined sales tax of 6% (rank 39 of 51), an average effective property tax of 1.06% (rank 21 of 51) and progressive income tax brackets. A household comparing states should compare all three against its own pattern — a high earner who rents weighs the income tax most; a homeowner on a fixed income weighs the property tax most.
Major cities in Maryland
Baltimore, Frederick, Rockville, Gaithersburg, Bowie. Combined sales-tax rates differ between these cities — sometimes by more than a full percentage point inside the same state — because county and city layers stack on the state base. The Maryland sales tax guide breaks down the calculation and links the calculator where you can enter your exact local rate.
Calculators for Maryland residents
- Maryland Sales Tax Guide & Examples — what you actually pay, with worked amounts.
- Sales Tax & VAT Calculator — add or extract tax at any rate, including your exact Maryland local rate.
- Mortgage Calculator — include Maryland property tax in the monthly payment.
- Property Tax Calculator — estimate a specific property's bill.
- Self-Employment Tax Calculator — federal SE tax for Maryland freelancers.